Another rail price rant

Dominic9

Wanting to visit a friend who lives 40 miles out of London.

Nice and simple - myself and partner will head up on a Friday night, and either come back late that evening or stay over and return the following day.

I've no desire to take my car, as it would be through London at rush-hour. And no need either, as I would be meeting my friend very close to the station.

Looking up lowest cost train fares, booked in advance, the total price of the journey is:

Cost of driving: £15 fuel for the return journey, taking 90 minutes each way and leaving when I want to.

Cost of rail to come back same day: £45, taking between 90-120 minutes, last train leaves at 2254.

Cost of rail to come back next day: £60, taking 90 minutes each way

Ah well, that will be me inefficiently taking a car through London in rush hour with just two people in it:mad:

Searcher

Dominic9 wrote: »

Wanting to visit a friend who lives 40 miles out of London.

Nice and simple - myself and partner will head up on a Friday night, and either come back late that evening or stay over and return the following day.

I've no desire to take my car, as it would be through London at rush-hour. And no need either, as I would be meeting my friend very close to the station.

Looking up lowest cost train fares, booked in advance, the total price of the journey is:



Ah well, that will be me inefficiently taking a car through London in rush hour with just two people in it:mad:

I know what you mean!
There is no incentive to travel by rail in this country. I live in London and my parents are in Manchester. The cost of fuel is around £60 return.
Train fair is approximately the same per person plus the cost of the tube to and from Euston.

Rolandtheroadie

Thats privitisation for you.

moonrakerz

Dominic9 wrote: »

Wanting to visit a friend who lives 40 miles out of London.

Could you state where ?

Dominic9

Could you state where ?

Going from near Clapham Junction to Letchworth. Prices quoted were for 2 people, with journey out being peak time on a Friday.

Jeff_Bridges_hair

Dominic9 wrote: »

Going from near Clapham Junction to Letchworth. Prices quoted were for 2 people, with journey out being peak time on a Friday.

If you buy a network railcard for £28 HERE then you would save a third off that price for the return which is nearly the price of the railcard anyway so a worthy investment especially should you do that journey again or through out the network area for a whole year

persa

Jeff_Bridges_hair wrote: »

If you buy a network railcard for £28 HERE then you would save a third off that price for the return which is nearly the price of the railcard anyway so a worthy investment especially should you do that journey again or through out the network area for a whole year

Better yet...

National_Rail wrote:

Gold Card holders can also buy a Network Railcard for another adult for just £1.

If you know someone with a tube annual travelcard, you can get your hands on a network railcard for only a quid!

p00hsticks

Searcher wrote: »

I live in London and my parents are in Manchester. The cost of fuel is around £60 return.
Train fair is approximately the same per person plus the cost of the tube to and from Euston.

Actually that's one route where I'd suggest that for two people the train is usually cheaper and certainly quicker than driving - advance singles are only £11.50

Jeff_Bridges_hair

persa wrote: »

Better yet...



If you know someone with a tube annual travelcard, you can get your hands on a network railcard for only a quid!

This already got me thinking actually. .Does the OP have an oyster season at all? That way they would only have to pay for a ticket from the boundry zone/station to Letchworth. Though whether the train has to stop at that last station i cant remember - I think they changed it so it doesnt have to but best to check at the ticket office

p00hsticks wrote: »

Actually that's one route where I'd suggest that for two people the train is usually cheaper and certainly quicker than driving - advance singles are only £11.50

Indeed they can be very cheap - Ive got one through to Kent from Manchester and cost me £21. including tube transfer(but ill walk the short distance to St Pancras)

trukdiver

p00hsticks wrote: »

Actually that's one route where I'd suggest that for two people the train is usually cheaper and certainly quicker than driving - advance singles are only £11.50

I live in London and travel up to Warrington frequently. I only pay £11.50 each way. The only problem is having to plan far enough ahead as the Friday and Sunday evening tickets tend to sell out but the rest of the week is quite easy.