Train fare included £16.60 for walking between two stations in Birmingham

In between the Birmingham stations the carrier was ‘Foot’ … Photograph: Christopher Thomond for the Guardian

I had to go from Bristol to Stratford-upon-Avon, booking through thetrainline.com. The one-way ticket price came up at £50.50. Just before confirming the payment I clicked the “Show journeys” button. It showed the route as being from Bristol Temple Meads to Birmingham New Street, then from Birmingham Moor Street to Stratford. In between the Birmingham stations the carrier was “Foot”. I wondered what the cost breakdown of the journey was, so checked the price of separate tickets. Here’s the answer: Bristol to Birmingham: £26.20; Birmingham to Stratford: £7.70. Total: £33.90. I would have been charged £16.60 for the privilege of walking from New Street to Moor Street station. Perhaps thetrainline.com is trying to drum up cash to fund a rail link? HG, Grantham, Lincs

It’s bizarre that buying separate tickets for each leg of a journey can save a hefty percentage of the cost of a through ticket – you don’t even have to get off at those stations. It’s allowed under the National Conditions of Carriage. Naturally, train operators dislike this dodge and so these bargain options don’t tend to be flagged up on websites. The Trainline tells me it does not set ticket prices and ignores the point that it doesn’t refer passengers to the cheapest available deals. Cross Country, the rail operator, explains that the two-ticket option was cheaper in your case because there were still discounted advance tickets available on the Bristol to Birmingham leg, whereas all the advance through tickets from Bristol to Stratford had sold out. Had the advance tickets on the first leg also sold out, the two-ticket option would have worked out £10 more expensive.

The fact remains that passengers are not told of ticket combinations that could save them a fortune.

However, a website called TrainSplit.com now searches out cheaper split fares normally hidden from the public. The free service, launched last year, reckons its search tool can save an average of 22% on fares published on train websites.

If you need help email Anna Tims at your.problems@observer.co.uk or write to Your Problems, The Observer, Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU. Include an address and phone number.