Train operators - rogue pricing?

[Pawnless Endgame]

I'm going to Peterborough in a couple of weeks time for their yearly Mart event, coming back the same day. I check tickets online and the cheapest is £48 return, any time in the same month. They don't offer a same-day return. The journey is Stafford to Peterborough, changing at Bham New Street on the way there and Nuneaton on the way back.

Now if I break it down in journeys, I can book Sta-Nun for £6.10 same-day return, and then Nun-Pbo and Pbo-Nun for £8 as 2 singles. This adds up to £22.10. That's less than half of £48!

Sure, it's fine for those who can do maths and book the cheaper route, but don't you think it's naughty that the operators make you have to do this?

 

[Pawnless Endgame]

Thanks. I didn't know that there were even cheaper tickets before now, but I'm very happy with £22. 3 years ago, I paid £34, so when I found out that the same trip hiked to £48 (well over inflation!), I got suspicious and started breaking it down.