Rip-off train tickets

[MrV]

lawrence567 said:

Just book in advance.
I did & can go from Newton Abbot to London for £35 return.

You missed the point of the thread ,its about when you have to make a short notice journey.

I got stung to the tune of £35 a couple of weeks ago when going to pick a car up ,nearly 3 hours to do the trip .Return trip by car, £10 on fuel and 90 min travel time.

[mouseymousey]

Of course one major benefit to the train is that you can have a beer

[staceyb]

BTW if you go up the A1M they have taken pretty much all of the roundabouts out from Peterbrough northwards.

[andy400]

mouseymousey said:

Of course one major benefit to the train is that you can have a beer

At about £6/pint.....

[Dr Imran T]

staceyb said:

BTW if you go up the A1M they have taken pretty much all of the roundabouts out from Peterbrough northwards.

Indeed they have, made my drive from London - North East so much easier

[nottyash]

I agree, How on earth is it a viable option instead of using the car? it just isnt.

I travelled on the train twice recently.
1st time the door wouldnt open and we ended up at a different station and had to pay £30 for a taxi home. I conmplained and got vouchers to use on another train.

the second time train delayed for 2 1/2 hours I had a full refund, but again in vouchers.

I think everyone on the train must be travelling for free with their compensation vouchers as no one in their right mind would pay their own hard earned cash for the displeasure.

[ApexJimi]

blindswelledrat said:

It drives me up the wall. fking ridiculous.
I was heartened to noticed Virgin Rail sales declining.
I hate this bks that they all do where a single is 1p cheaper than a return? WHat in ing hell is all that about?
Most times I catch the train it is one way (buying a car/motorbike/meeting familyu on holiday after work etc etc) thus I pay double for being such a tosser wanting a single.
Last three trips on train:
One way Bodmin from London £95
One way Newcastle from London £100
One way South Wales from London £89

YOu can fly to anywhere in Europe for comfortably cheaper than that.
Trains

I can't decide which is more staggering - the fact that I am in complete concurrence with BSR, or the legalised robbery that is train fares.

(for once, not aimed at you, BSR!)

[blindswelledrat]

ApexJimi said:

I can't decide which is more staggering - the fact that I am in complete concurrence with BSR, or the legalised robbery that is train fares.

(for once, not aimed at you, BSR!)

It must be an age thing.

[lawrence567]

MrV said:

lawrence567 said:

Just book in advance.
I did & can go from Newton Abbot to London for £35 return.

You missed the point of the thread ,its about when you have to make a short notice journey.

I got stung to the tune of £35 a couple of weeks ago when going to pick a car up ,nearly 3 hours to do the trip .Return trip by car, £10 on fuel and 90 min travel time.

I didnt read the whole thread.
Someone at my work had to make the same journey the other day (Newton Abbot to Paddington).
He wanted it for a Friday (probably the busiest train day).
There was only 2 available trains he could take as all the others were booked.
Think they wanted about £75.00 return or there abouts.

[Mr POD]

I was looking at buying a car that was in Bexley Heath. Now Liverpool to London is pretty expensive, but I found that going on a Saturday afternoon would cost Less than £30 to central london. Then a BUS ride to bexley would be what ? Anyway the car was sold before I booked my ticket !!!

[blindswelledrat]

Mr POD said:

I was looking at buying a car that was in Bexley Heath. Now Liverpool to London is pretty expensive, but I found that going on a Saturday afternoon would cost Less than £30 to central london. Then a BUS ride to bexley would be what ? Anyway the car was sold before I booked my ticket !!!

Fascinating.
You don't have any more such anecdotes do you by any chance?

[AstonV12]

Mr POD said:

I was looking at buying a car that was in Bexley Heath. Now Liverpool to London is pretty expensive, but I found that going on a Saturday afternoon would cost Less than £30 to central london. Then a BUS ride to bexley would be what ? Anyway the car was sold before I booked my ticket !!!

More like tube from Euston to London Bridge then train to Bexleyheath - it's clean on the other side on London. Zone 1-6 trvaelcard £9 I think...

[blindswelledrat]

AstonV12 said:

Mr POD said:

I was looking at buying a car that was in Bexley Heath. Now Liverpool to London is pretty expensive, but I found that going on a Saturday afternoon would cost Less than £30 to central london. Then a BUS ride to bexley would be what ? Anyway the car was sold before I booked my ticket !!!

More like tube from Euston to London Bridge then train to Bexleyheath - it's clean on the other side on London. Zone 1-6 trvaelcard £9 I think...

Fascinating. Just fascinating

[jesta1865]

mouseymousey said:

Of course one major benefit to the train is that you can have a beer

funnily enough, i used the train often years back when i was in the city and single, as i used to travel to football on midland mainline quite often.

using trainline.com i used to book a £33 1st class return for the match.

all worked fine as i could have a beer with the boys before and after etc.

then one Saturday i got to st pan-crass to find the train was cancelled, well not a problem plenty of time, go on the next one. sat in 1st class, then had an almighty row with the 'train manager' as i was on the wrong time train. she wanted me to pay full fare or get off, and i pointed out that the reason i was on 'her' train at the wrong time was because her company had cancelled mine. she finally backed down when i started asking for the telephone numbers of her superiors to ask what she should do. changed her tune very quickly.

its the inflexibility of the staff that puts me off these days. i would hate to do the city run again, might have to though when it picks up for more beer tokens.

[scorp]

Doncaster to London Kings cross cost me £36 about 5 weeks back. Bought 1 day in advance. How on earth did you manage to get stung for £200?

[AstonV12]

blindswelledrat said:

AstonV12 said:

Mr POD said:

I was looking at buying a car that was in Bexley Heath. Now Liverpool to London is pretty expensive, but I found that going on a Saturday afternoon would cost Less than £30 to central london. Then a BUS ride to bexley would be what ? Anyway the car was sold before I booked my ticket !!!

More like tube from Euston to London Bridge then train to Bexleyheath - it's clean on the other side on London. Zone 1-6 trvaelcard £9 I think...

Fascinating. Just fascinating

Err, I don't find it fascinating in the least.

As you were

Edited by AstonV12 on Tuesday 17th March 14:51

[Silver993tt]

Crikey, I booked a ticket from Hamburg to Geneva, which is a 9 hour journey and got a special in First class for 58 euros (about £50). I also pay about £70 per month for the equivalent to all zones in London for using all forms of public transport in a German city and surrounding areas. How do the UK government expect people to take up Public transport without forcing them onto it (congestion charge, crap train services, crap train carriages, stupid peak time fares, no seats etc)? It seems like the UK uses a big stick to get people onto public transport while on the continent they use a carrot.

Edited by Silver993tt on Tuesday 17th March 15:11

[Xaero]

For comparitive purposes, my flight to Malaysia next week (one way) was £215, with a meal, selected seat and 15kg luggage allowance.

When I get there the 1hr 15min shuttle bus costs £1.40 to get to the hotel as well...

[tamore]

Silver993tt said:

Crikey, I booked a ticket from Hamburg to Geneva, which is a 9 hour journey and got a special in First class for 58 euros (about £50). I also pay about £70 per month for the equivalent to all zones in London for using all forms of public transport in a German city and surrounding areas. How do the UK government expect people to take up Public transport without forcing them onto it (congestion charge, crap train services, crap train carriages, stupid peak time fares, no seats etc)? It seems like the UK uses a big stick to get people onto public transport while on the continent they use a carrot.

Edited by Silver993tt on Tuesday 17th March 15:11

you've summed it up nicely with your last sentence.

[DamoLLb]

I have a rail card which cost 25 quid, however saves me approx 30%. I made the investment back in one transaction. If you ever have the misfortune to do the london euston to birmingham new street on a friday at 5ish you will soon see where virgin makes lost revenue. I have yet to do the journey sitting down, I have always been perched outside the WC!!