Rail fare rip offs

[Prof Beard]

Today I had to go to Bolton for a meeting. Locations made going by train the best option.

I turn up at Stafford station and say "Day return to Bolton please" - "That'll be £49 something" says woman behind the glass. "That's ridiculous," I say "will it be cheaper to get a return to Manchester, and then one from there to Bolton?". "Possibly." She says.

I buy a return to Manchester (£17ish). At Manchester I buy a local return to Bolton for £3.

And they wonder why people think trains are a rip-off