Train fare

I'm going to London this morning booked a month ago, cost return £65 now for me to book on the same train I am going on one-way £181. How does that work out, daylight robbery.

 

It's an absolute farce. We're supposed to be being encouraged to use the roads less, but it's very rare that the train works out better value, unless I'm travelling alone and I've booked well in advance. Even being able to work on the train is debatable considering how rubbish the WiFi is on most services. On Friday I flew to Lisbon for £30. A return on the train from Lincoln to Leeds costs me nearly that, and that's one of the better value services. I work a lot in Bristol, which is always at least £100 return, and can be a lot more. So, I have no real alternative except to drive.

 

The cost of train tickets is absolutely disgusting but
get ready for January when it gets announced that train tickets are going up in price again from April. Highest train fares in Europe in this country and probably the shittest service too. Something needs to be done very quickly because as @Merde Tete points out, this ain't really encouraging anyone to get off the road.

 

Yep was told back in the day let capitalism market forces make things cheaper eh one train company, one water company etc hows that going to work well it doesn't. You must admit though it's a little bit satisfying when you check that's why we do it.

 

But, but, but, what about Mick Lynch holding the country to ransom...?

 

Other problem is if they reduced the prices the demand would go up and there's not enough rolling stock to cover existing demand so it would make overcrowding worse.

 

Add the fact that they are often delayed too.

 

Stopped getting train from Liverpool to the match - much cheaper on National Express. Train to Leeds over 40 pound - 18 on the coach and you're guaranteed a seat. Get Train to Barnsley for 3.90 through Discount for Teachers Website

 

Looked at the train for the leyton orient game dec 21 so booking 2 months in advance. Train to barnsley from my house in Essex is between £100 and £130 . Petrol cost I reckon about £60-70 . I do prefer to travel by train but it is becoming very expensive

 

I didn't understand the bit from a couple of posters "we're supposed to be encouraging cars off the road." Who are "we". I've not seen that encouragement.

 

Currently sat on train at King’s Cross waiting to return back to Donny.
Return travel for me and my wife using a two for one railcard cost £sixty pounds
Obviously planning ahead is the only way to obtain a decent price , twelve weeks before being the optimum time

 

I often don't know what I'm doing 12 days in advance, never mind 12 weeks.

 

That is simply not true. There are several companies which own the rolling stock and lease them to the operating companies. The operating companies will not lease an extra carriage on a train if they can help it in order to reduce costs and increase profits. On a recent journey to Barnsley from Burton on Trent on which I had to stand all the way, the train passed the depot of one of the owners of rolling stock just north of Burton station. Guess what? The depot was full to busting with rolling stock.

 

The only train service I use which is cheaper than driving, is by using the Derbyshire Wayfarer ticket to get from Burton on Trent to Sheffield. The ticket costs me £8 (as a senior, £16 otherwise) and gives unlimited travel within Derbyshire but including Burton and Sheffield. To do the return journey in the car would cost me about £15 in fuel (excluding insurance and wear and tear etc). If my wife were to travel with me then the car would win.

 

Yesterday. Some lads caught a train to go on to Blackpool (stupid coach rules) managed to rush onto the 9am train. £18 single cos they paid on train. Warned the others to buy at the ticket office/machine b4 catching next train. Half hr later £9.

The policing in Blackpool outside the ground was the worst I've ever encountered. Unbelievable numbers. And not one ounce of common sense or understanding of where the hotspots were. (Not that there were any I saw in the vicinity regarding possible incidents) But Given we had to walk around a third of mile to reach our hotel. Hotspots were unpoliced, Blackpool youngsters giving it verbal walking towards us knowing we were obviously barnsley fans walking in the other direction.

Leaving the exit we (me 67 mi mate 70 and others of a similar age) were 30/40yds from the entry/exit points (Blackpool fc Hotel) I kid ye not. All pensioners. Coppers with no common sense whatsoever. Letting our more aged/infirm friends through. PRICKS. EVEN SHOWED EM OUR HOTEL KEY CARDS. BLACKPOOL FC HOTEL ON THE BLOODY THINGS. TWO HATS.

 

Use the train a fair bit with my daughter for games and our family and friends rail card works great for us………went to Wembley the other week for £45 return……..it would cost me £100 in fuel in my car so no brainer

 

Family and Friends Railcard is absolutely brilliant. Just not sure why there isn't some sort of equivalent for people who often use the train alone, especially bearing in mind that single people in cars are disproportionately large reasons for congestion and air pollution.

 

Totally agree, until single users can see some real value in using the train they will continue to jump in there cars

 

I prefer the train for long journeys or to London. I don't even mind paying the inflated fares - usually because the delays mean I can claim most of the ticket fare back.

Some of the fares are completely unreasonable though. A return from Doncaster to York comes out at £23 each on a Saturday. Driving to York, parking at the outlet and catching the Park and Ride bus to the city centre costs about £10-15...