Why is train travel in the UK so expensive.
Discussion
Just looked at train tickets for Newark to Edinburgh. £650.00 for two of us first class or £256 standard.
We'd be the leaving the car at Newark station overnight adjacent to the gypsy site, which doesn't appeal much to be honest. Then we'd have the opportunity to heft our luggage onto a train which probably wouldn't be very clean, it would likely be smelly and would certainly be full of people we wouldn't choose to travel with (unless trains have changed a lot in the 36 months since I've been on one).
If we drive, fuel will be about £120 and parking is free where we are going. Yes, there's some driving to be done but I do quite enjoy that and the last time I drove up that way the roads seemed quieter, better maintained and with a better standard of driving (why is lane discipline better north of the border?)
So it will be the car this time.
We'd be the leaving the car at Newark station overnight adjacent to the gypsy site, which doesn't appeal much to be honest. Then we'd have the opportunity to heft our luggage onto a train which probably wouldn't be very clean, it would likely be smelly and would certainly be full of people we wouldn't choose to travel with (unless trains have changed a lot in the 36 months since I've been on one).
If we drive, fuel will be about £120 and parking is free where we are going. Yes, there's some driving to be done but I do quite enjoy that and the last time I drove up that way the roads seemed quieter, better maintained and with a better standard of driving (why is lane discipline better north of the border?)
So it will be the car this time.
National Rail website offers 2 and 2 halves Chelmsford to Blackpool
outbound Wed 2nd Oct dep 11:09 arr 15:21 with 3 changes (Liverpool St/tube/Euston/Preston)
returning Fri 4th Oct dep 9:44 and arriving 14:22 with 3 changes (Friday travel times are restricted somewhat so might be best avoided)
with Family & friends railcard all up at £81.60 + £30 for the railcard. So total £111.60 and the railcard lasts for 12 months.
Dates latest two night midweek you can book today and Chelmsford chosen as random Essex departure point.
More digging to be done before you write off the economy of the train perhaps.
HTH
outbound Wed 2nd Oct dep 11:09 arr 15:21 with 3 changes (Liverpool St/tube/Euston/Preston)
returning Fri 4th Oct dep 9:44 and arriving 14:22 with 3 changes (Friday travel times are restricted somewhat so might be best avoided)
with Family & friends railcard all up at £81.60 + £30 for the railcard. So total £111.60 and the railcard lasts for 12 months.
Dates latest two night midweek you can book today and Chelmsford chosen as random Essex departure point.
More digging to be done before you write off the economy of the train perhaps.
HTH
Perec said:
Just looked at train tickets for Newark to Edinburgh. £650.00 for two of us first class or £256 standard.
We'd be the leaving the car at Newark station overnight adjacent to the gypsy site, which doesn't appeal much to be honest. Then we'd have the opportunity to heft our luggage onto a train which probably wouldn't be very clean, it would likely be smelly and would certainly be full of people we wouldn't choose to travel with (unless trains have changed a lot in the 36 months since I've been on one).
If we drive, fuel will be about £120 and parking is free where we are going. Yes, there's some driving to be done but I do quite enjoy that and the last time I drove up that way the roads seemed quieter, better maintained and with a better standard of driving (why is lane discipline better north of the border?)
So it will be the car this time.
Last year we went from Worcester to Edinburgh for the fringe. Decided to go by train First class and booked seats as soon as they opened up 6 months before the travel dates.We'd be the leaving the car at Newark station overnight adjacent to the gypsy site, which doesn't appeal much to be honest. Then we'd have the opportunity to heft our luggage onto a train which probably wouldn't be very clean, it would likely be smelly and would certainly be full of people we wouldn't choose to travel with (unless trains have changed a lot in the 36 months since I've been on one).
If we drive, fuel will be about £120 and parking is free where we are going. Yes, there's some driving to be done but I do quite enjoy that and the last time I drove up that way the roads seemed quieter, better maintained and with a better standard of driving (why is lane discipline better north of the border?)
So it will be the car this time.
With railcards the fares were not extortionate for the two of us about £80 return each. Yes more expensive than driving but a change.
All trains were on time, we had seats, free grub and drinks although these were quite limited on the Saturday return. Still a quite tiring journey however.
As we left the train at final destination and waited for a cab I started to work out that if we had got in the car at the time we left the hotel to walk to Waverly station, by now we would have already been home an hour including a one hour lunch stop at Tebay services.
I guess it's a mixed bag.
I have just checked trains from London to Newcastle and on any weekend in Aug it works out £120 return for 'advance' tickets in the 2nd class. I guess I won't be visiting.
I remember 12 years ago go from London to Edinburgh (via Newcastle) for £36 return. Are these fares no longer there ?
I have just checked trains from London to Newcastle and on any weekend in Aug it works out £120 return for 'advance' tickets in the 2nd class. I guess I won't be visiting.
I remember 12 years ago go from London to Edinburgh (via Newcastle) for £36 return. Are these fares no longer there ?
chris7676 said:
I guess it's a mixed bag.
I have just checked trains from London to Newcastle and on any weekend in Aug it works out £120 return for 'advance' tickets in the 2nd class. I guess I won't be visiting.
Try the prices for a return from London to somewhere north of Newcastle where you need to change at Newcastle, say Blyth. Tickets can sometimes be much cheaper to a less popular destination.I have just checked trains from London to Newcastle and on any weekend in Aug it works out £120 return for 'advance' tickets in the 2nd class. I guess I won't be visiting.
London to Norwich is more expensive than London to Sheringham (changing at Norwich). London to Chester is double London to Hollyhead (changing at Chester).
But beware, they can get shirty if you aren't completing your journey. But just lie, say you are going on to your final destination but are just popping out to meet a friend in the pub for 10 mins.
LooneyTunes said:
Stupeo said:
Get a family travel card for ~£30 and you will halve that price I suspect.
Slightly O/T, but has anyone notice that the Family railcard doesn't discount in First, but the Senior one does? Always strikes me as an odd disparity between the two.FiF said:
Two Together railcard also ddiscounts in first.
Never heard of that one before.Quick google and it turns out that:
"this Railcard is exclusive to people living in the West Midlands postcode areas of Birmingham (B), Coventry (CV), Dudley (DY), Walsall (WS) and Wolverhampton (WV),"
"The Two Together Railcard can no longer be purchased, as the trial sale period has come to an end."
...so sadly not a solution! Worth a look though, so thanks for mentioning it.
Buying train tickets can be a lottery.
2 weeks ago Stockport-London £46.40 return for 4
3 weeks ago Stockport-Birmingham £58 a tenner more expensive than driving but ok for a change.
A day ticket to Birmingham costs £75
.
It is now regularly cheaper for staff to travel off peak to London and stay over a night than do a day return.
2 weeks ago Stockport-London £46.40 return for 4
3 weeks ago Stockport-Birmingham £58 a tenner more expensive than driving but ok for a change.
A day ticket to Birmingham costs £75
.It is now regularly cheaper for staff to travel off peak to London and stay over a night than do a day return.
Money Saving Expert has some really good tips, but the main one is checking out the cost of split journeys.
For instance if I go from Formby to Birmingham it's £46 return.
If I go to Formby to Liverpool Southpark way on one ticket and then Birmingham on another and back on 2 tickets it's £5.40 plus £9 plus £14 plus £5.40 so £12 cheaper.
For instance if I go from Formby to Birmingham it's £46 return.
If I go to Formby to Liverpool Southpark way on one ticket and then Birmingham on another and back on 2 tickets it's £5.40 plus £9 plus £14 plus £5.40 so £12 cheaper.
Efbe said:
but why the illuminations in blackpool?
it's a bloody long way to go for a (probably) wet, chav infested, scumhole with a few lights.
Driving will take around 4 and a half hours, going past london, so maybe more.
you could be doing so much better things with your time!
I'd go for a day trip to Paris instead! it's a bloody long way to go for a (probably) wet, chav infested, scumhole with a few lights.
Driving will take around 4 and a half hours, going past london, so maybe more.
you could be doing so much better things with your time!
TwigtheWonderkid said:
Tickets can sometimes be much cheaper to a less popular destination.
Indeed, but I think it makes no economical sense with mass transport where more popular routes should be the cheapest as the trains are full of passenger (bar the 'fast train' factor which I understand can be more expensive to run). In fact many not popular routes should be closed (but they tend to spark the protest of 6-7 villagers so it's hard to do...).Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff