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Cheaper to drive to Bristol than to go by train?

Jitendar Canth (Reviewer) posted this on Friday, 13th April 2018, 12:09

No, it's cheaper to buy a car, tax it, insure it, fill it up with petrol and drive to Bristol, than to go by train...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-43745117

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Jitendar Canth

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RE: Cheaper to drive to Bristol than to go by train?

Snaps (Elite) posted this on Friday, 13th April 2018, 12:40

Makes a good headline and gives us all a chuckle but I think I'd have to agree with the GWR spokeman.

Quote:
A spokesman for GWR said: "For the time taken to buy a car, collect, insure it and to drive the 340-mile round trip, Tom could have waited an hour and bought an off peak return; allowing him more time with his friends and saving himself well over £125.

Snaps



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RE: Cheaper to drive to Bristol than to go by train?

bandicoot (Elite) posted this on Friday, 13th April 2018, 13:18

British rail is notorious for crazy pricing in their favor.

I can go from my local station to London off peak return at price X (which is roughly 80 miles), and the single off peak is price X minus 75 pence, (which is roughly 40 miles).

In other words its almost the same price for an 80 mile journey or a 40 mile journey. Crazy!

RE: Cheaper to drive to Bristol than to go by train?

admars (Elite) posted this on Friday, 13th April 2018, 13:21

and what if he had had to pay to park?

it's funny with trains though, when I worked in Winchester, getting the train was the most economical way to commute.

And funnily enough, when I used to go to Bristol with work, I'd go on train, as the train fair was actually pretty cheap, even aiming to get to the office first thing in the morning, certainly cheaper than petrol and paying to park all day, not that I would have paid but if I'm getting paid to go there, I my as well sit in relative comfort and read etc :)

But if say i'm going to London on my own for pleasure for the day, it's a real dilemma whether to go on train or drive, if there's 2 or more going, it's a real no brainer, train is far too expensive.

Also busses, the girls wanted to go into town on the bus, so I agreed, not knowing, 3 of us, return would cost about £8.00. parking for a similar amount of time would have been £5 in city centre :(

Where I work now, I drive, I would get the train, but I'd either get here at 8, or 9, I start at 8:30. Train is about £5.00, parking would be £8, but I park a 10 minute walk away from the office and walk that bit.

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This item was edited on Friday, 13th April 2018, 13:22

RE: Cheaper to drive to Bristol than to go by train?

Jitendar Canth (Reviewer) posted this on Friday, 13th April 2018, 13:33

I just think that when an equivalent city to city journey by air is cheaper than rail, something is seriously messed up.

===========================
Jitendar Canth

Quote:
"I thought what I`d do was, I`d pretend I was one of those deaf-mutes."


Site Reviewer at DVD Reviewer & MyReviewer

Carving out a niche with a pneumatic drill at Anime @ MyReviewer.com

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RE: Cheaper to drive to Bristol than to go by train?

admars (Elite) posted this on Friday, 13th April 2018, 13:45

yes, from here I've been to Edinburgh 3 times, and price is similar between plane and train, so even including the waiting around at the airport plane is the obvious choice.

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RE: Cheaper to drive to Bristol than to go by train?

Andy c (Elite) posted this on Friday, 13th April 2018, 15:29

Top Gear did this quite a few years ago and the three of them saved a fortune on the fare.
My main problem with Train Fares is the fact that public transport is supposed to be there for the public to use. It is alright saying you can book a cheap ticket two months in advance but that isn't the point. You may want to go somewhere last minute and shouldn't have to donate a kidney to afford it. Bus services don't do it and trains should be no different.
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RE: Cheaper to drive to Bristol than to go by train?

bandicoot (Elite) posted this on Friday, 13th April 2018, 15:47

I bought my works van off Ebay two years ago, and the car was in Edinburgh, and it was cheaper (and quicker) to fly into Edinburgh than go by rail.

RE: Cheaper to drive to Bristol than to go by train?

pat-w (Elite) posted this on Friday, 13th April 2018, 19:02

Many years ago I was a motor cycle courier working mainly Central London. There was a regular job to collect a envelope from a solicitors and go to Scotland. I only did it twice, I took my bike to City Airport, got a return fare ticket & a cab from the scottish airport. All in it was there, cab ride & return in under 4 hours.
That one job after costs was worth £500.
When I was due to do it for a third time my bike died. I'm glad I gave it up because it was too tempting to take unnecessary risks because at that age I thought I was immortal, a bad accident won't happen to me, it only happens to stupid people.
I've since learnt that's not the case.

You used to be able to ride a coach to Glasgow from King's Cross for £5, the snag was that you weren't allowed to take any food or drink because they didn't want to have to clean up after you. Not having to pay for cleaning kept the costs low.
All that way without a drink.

RE: Cheaper to drive to Bristol than to go by train?

sj (Elite) posted this on Friday, 13th April 2018, 19:14

I agree the story makes for a good headline but to pay a few hundred quid to sit on a train to go that sort of distance is almost criminal no matter how far in advance the ticket is booked.  It really is disgusting.  As soon as there's more than one of you it becomes a no brainer.
We've needed to use trains a few times recently and it really isn't cheap.  If things go according to plan, our daughter will be going to university in Bristol this year and those sorts of prices don't really make visiting or coming home any more appealing. :)

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