Train Ticket Prices.........

[Pat H]

I went down to Finchley today to look at an old Ferrari.

As the weather looked a bit crap, I decided to travel by train.

The timetable was promising enough, with the trip scheduled to take less than 2 1/2 hours from Wigan to Euston, so I went into the station last week and asked about the prices.

To travel off peak (after 9.00am) the return fare was £55.00, or £25.00 if I bought an advance ticket.

£25 for a return from Wigan to London is about half the cost of the petrol, so I decided to give it a go.

And so it was that yesterday I went to the station to buy my advance ticket. Upon arrival I was advised that the holiday timetable was still in place and that there was no discount for an advance ticket.

Bummer.

But I was advised that there was no peak service premium and that I could travel before 9.00am for £55.00.

Hurrah.

I decided that it was still worth a punt at £55.00, but put off buying the ticket until this morning just in case my appointment in Finchley fell through.

And so it came to pass that I arrived at Wigan North Western to buy my ticket just before 07.30am train was due to depart.

Having presented myself at the ticket counter, I was advised that the holiday timetable was no longer in place and that my peak time return was going to cost £170.00.

ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY ING QUID

So I walked out of the station, got back in my car and drove there instead.

Cheers

Pat

[tomtom]

So, how was the Ferrari?

[Balmoral Green]

I have lost count of the number of times I have been influenced by train company adverts to enquire as to the cost of a family day trip to London, which said adverts indicate to be in the region of just a few pounds. It always ends up being several hundred squid, so we go by Bentley, it is cheaper, and certainly much kinder to the environment by a significant magnitude.

[ultimasimon]

Amusing post

Well go on then, what about the Fezza ?

[_ian_]

Hmm..

Went up to Newcastle recently for a lads weekend. Pre paid tickets. At the station for the return home, one of our party had a ticket for a train 6 minutes earlier.He asked if he could change it, no problem that'll be £65!!!(tickets were only £30 return each anyway)
So he jumped it in the end.

[speedyman]

Just bought my annual season ticket £4029 up from £3600 last year. A complete rip off, just to get to work and back.

speedyman

[Petrol_noggin]

take an aircraft from your nearest airport, its at least half as expensive and you get there in a quarter of the time I pay £10 off peak from MK to London.

[princeperch]

170 quid? I would want my own private train for that kind of dosh.

So how was the smoke Patrick?

[toppstuff]

Would you believe that a first class annual season ticket from a provincial town into London, a journey of just 70-80 miles or so, costs in excess of £9,000 !!

It is true. A colleague of mine catches a train from Swindon to Paddington - got talking to a chap who does the trip regularly, and that is the rate.

Apparently the journey took just 50 minutes 10 years ago. It takes 1 hour 15 minutes now, frequently 1 hr 30....

Progress?

[jessica]

Pat H said:

I went down to Finchley today to look at an old Ferrari. As the weather looked a bit crap, I decided to travel by train. The timetable was promising enough, with the trip scheduled to take less than 2 1/2 hours from Wigan to Euston, so I went into the station last week and asked about the prices. To travel off peak (after 9.00am) the return fare was £55.00, or £25.00 if I bought an advance ticket. £25 for a return from Wigan to London is about half the cost of the petrol, so I decided to give it a go. And so it was that yesterday I went to the station to buy my advance ticket. Upon arrival I was advised that the holiday timetable was still in place and that there was no discount for an advance ticket. Bummer. But I was advised that there was no peak service premium and that I could travel before 9.00am for £55.00. Hurrah. I decided that it was still worth a punt at £55.00, but put off buying the ticket until this morning just in case my appointment in Finchley fell through. And so it came to pass that I arrived at Wigan North Western to buy my ticket just before 07.30am train was due to depart. Having presented myself at the ticket counter, I was advised that the holiday timetable was no longer in place and that my peak time return was going to cost £170.00. ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY ING QUID So I walked out of the station, got back in my car and drove there instead. Cheers Pat

you have to book 6 weeks in advance and then you can have manchester to Euston return for 25...........GBP
12.50 EW Bargain............................

[alexkp]

A couple of years ago I needed to make a business train journey from Milton Keynes to Manchester return the same day. Standard class, the cost was £140.

The journey was 1hr 45 mins either way.

I was utterly appalled at the price. God only knows how they justify these rip-offs.

[Pigeon]

See how the worst excesses are bloody Virgin Trains... I hate that company, grrr, rant, etc.

[Pat H]

ultimasimon said:

Amusing post Well go on then, what about the Fezza ?

It was absolutely delicious

I wrote a cheque out on the spot.

Pat

[chris_freebie]

The Problem I have is that as I pay tax for a fuel card (which does work out heavily in my favour) any public transport is a waste of money (unless the park & ride makes it cheaper than parking which lets face it if you're going to drive 95% of the way there you're gonna pay the excess anyway).

Green Peace Oxford know it all students, throwing pies at Jeremy Clarkson wont really help matters the nation will still drive.

Train to London to see a play at the theatre was going to cost around £18 each, however I enquired about group tickets and it worked out at £5each provided we travelled in the group and were together should ticket inspection arise.

That's pretty good going if you ask me as driving into London is just not great. Plus you can get pished when you're taking the train home (oh and you don't have to park your train either!)

[ZR1cliff]

Pat H said:

ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY ING QUID

Reminds me of a few weeks back when i needed to travel up from the S East to N Yorkshire to pick up a car ,,,they wanted nearly 90 quid for a single with no discount,i went in the station the day before and got it for £75...FIRST class

[8Pack]

Well, (forgive me for saying so gents) You wanted a privatised railway system......I guess you got one.

[benyeats]

Went to the smoke with three colleagues the other week so were able to get a group ticket, £8 each return Royston to London or £4 each way it is at least £8 each way normally. Caveat is you have to travel each way as a group which is not usually a problem.

Now if the train was always £8 each into London no point driving even if their is more than one of you, at £16 each driving is much cheaper for two or more.

Ben

[Cotty]

toppstuff said:

Apparently the journey took just 50 minutes 10 years ago. It takes 1 hour 15 minutes now, frequently 1 hr 30.... Progress?

All trains are slower. A stopper from my station to london used to take 25 mins these days its nearer 45 mins. A fast (my station to London with no stops) used to take 15 mins, these days nearer 30mins

£1,083 a year but thats no garantee of a seat and if they start getting the trains to run on time the cost goes up because of the passenger charter