Commuting Dilemma
Discussion
Looked up the price of train season tickets today. I have a 50 mile each way commute, and currently lift share for the second half of the journey so average about 320 miles per week getting to work and back. Now, if I started getting the train to work it would save me about £850 in fuel alone, not including tyres, servicing, maintenance, insurance etc. I can cycle to the station so no parking fees to worry about, might get wet now and then but not fussed about that. Adds about 10-20 mins onto the journey time.
My commute is mind numbingly dull, along the M2 from medway to thanet and back, so it's not as if it's a particularly enjoyable drive. But getting a train isn't much fun either.
So, in this situation, would you continue driving or bite the bullet and commit to getting the train?
Man maths tells me that the reduced milage I would be doing means I could sell the Passat and buy an M5 or something. But not sure my wife would see it that way
My commute is mind numbingly dull, along the M2 from medway to thanet and back, so it's not as if it's a particularly enjoyable drive. But getting a train isn't much fun either.
So, in this situation, would you continue driving or bite the bullet and commit to getting the train?
Man maths tells me that the reduced milage I would be doing means I could sell the Passat and buy an M5 or something. But not sure my wife would see it that way
jdw1234 said:
How much does £70 per month mean to you?
Can you do any work on the train to maximise your time?
£70 isn't a huge amount but I'd much rather spend it on a nice meal out with Mrs. Lufbramatt than giving it to the oil companies and the tax man. Can you do any work on the train to maximise your time?
Can't really work anywhere outside my office due to software licenses etc. But I can't work while I'm driving either. Shops are only a 5 min walk from work so don't bother taking the car if I go out at lunch anyway. I think I'll try it for a week, see how it works. My boss seems open to adjusting my hours to work around the train timetable.
Edited by lufbramatt on Tuesday 1st October 13:23
Got a weekly ticket on Monday to see if it would work or not, result is, wish I had started doing this ages ago.
The train is half empty as I'm going away from London in the morning, gets a bit busier towards the end of the journey as the college kids get on 2 stops before I get off but they seem ok, good banter with them actually. Enjoying doing more cycling, about 9 miles per day to and from the stations. Having to get up half hour earlier, but means I get to work 20 mins earlier and can sit and have breakfast on the train. Only getting home 10 mins later as well. Going to be getting through lots of books :-)
Main thing is I'm finding I'm a hell of a lot less stressed when I get in! The fact I'm saving money is a welcome bonus too.
The train is half empty as I'm going away from London in the morning, gets a bit busier towards the end of the journey as the college kids get on 2 stops before I get off but they seem ok, good banter with them actually. Enjoying doing more cycling, about 9 miles per day to and from the stations. Having to get up half hour earlier, but means I get to work 20 mins earlier and can sit and have breakfast on the train. Only getting home 10 mins later as well. Going to be getting through lots of books :-)
Main thing is I'm finding I'm a hell of a lot less stressed when I get in! The fact I'm saving money is a welcome bonus too.
I do Margate to Lewisham everyday in the car - A2-M2-A2......boring, but is about 30-40 minutes quicker than taking the train.
I tend to chose my method of commute by how long it takes, so for me it would depend on whether saving £70 a month was worth 'losing' 20-40 minutes a day, in your case.
I tend to chose my method of commute by how long it takes, so for me it would depend on whether saving £70 a month was worth 'losing' 20-40 minutes a day, in your case.
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