Is it any wonder I’m going to drive rather than take the train?

[TwickenhamCyclist]

Is it any wonder I’m going to drive rather than take the train?


Got to go to Bournemouth for the day next week. So I thought I’d book the train (not up to cycling 95 miles from Twickenham).
2 hrs 20 min journey time and £40!!! In advance. God knows what it is on the day. Not allowd to take the bike either (destination is a few miles from the station)


OR



I Can drive it in an hour and a half and spend less than £20.



It's a no brainer!



Going by train from Paris down to the alps for less than bloody £40 teh week after – wish the French would take over our railways…

 

[gouldina]

Also, the RMT might be on strike.

 

[thomas]

It's £54 for a return coach to Amsterdam. Prices of buses/trains are always really sceuwed and out of proportion for certain journeys.

 

[Davidc]

That train fare is high, but if Bournemouth is 95 miles, 190 return, then you can only be including fuel in your car costing. The real variable cost is much higher than just the fuel.

You'll have to get a Brompton!

 

[recumbentpanda]

BOMO slomo

Bournemouth is hard to get to from anywhere because it is in the middle of a space-time anomaly known as Dorset. I frequently Brompton there from the north, and it seems the trains from London Waterloo all have bike spaces. Maybe Twickenham is the problem?

 

[TwickenhamCyclist]

It’s the time – no bikes during rush hour – to get there for 11.30am I have to leave here around 8am – and go to Clapham Junction (or Waterloo) – even if bikes were allowed, the train is so rammed you physically couldn’t get it in the carriage (I’ve found it difficult getting on just carrying a laptop before).

 

[HJ]

Yep, we subsidies driving far to much, it is about time driver paid their way and cover the full cost of the damage they do...

 

[4F]

Hi TC, have you factored in the poxy M3 at that time of the day and the bottleneck
that is the M27 ???

 

[snorri]

Yep, we subsidies driving far to much, it is about time driver paid their way and cover the full cost of the damage they do...

 

[StuartG]

Bus from about £12 return next week from Victoria. You might get an ordinary bike on depending on driver. Otherwise take a Brompton!

 

[Norm]

It’s the time – no bikes during rush hour – to get there for 11.30am I have to leave here around 8am – and go to Clapham Junction (or Waterloo) – even if bikes were allowed, the train is so rammed you physically couldn’t get it in the carriage (I’ve found it difficult getting on just carrying a laptop before).

If you think a little bit laterally, you don't have to go to CJ or Waterloo.

You could cycle to Surbiton (about 5 miles from Twickenham) and you will avoid the London-bound restrictions. You can also get more of a lie-in, as you can get the 8:44 from Surbiton, change at Woking and Basingstoke and get to Bournemouth for 11am. Or, if you get the 8:30 from Surbiton, you only need to change at Woking and you are in Bournemouth for 10:20.

Return ticket from Surbiton is £35.80 which, by the time you've factored in your other car costs, will probably be pretty similar to the cost of driving.

 

[shouldbeinbed]

OP seems slow and costly

Manchester to London and return 2hours and 5 minutes each way & £55 for two adults booked 4 weeks before - thetrainline.com has a 'find cheapest' option.

couldn't fault it

 

[GrumpyGregry]

or you could maybe go pre-watershed. This far out there are a few trains to town each day before the bike ban starts.

Rail prices are whack. I went to Bristol from home on Friday. 141 miles by car, but I was going to go to pick up a car so that was out. Went 1st Class all the way on an advance ticket bought 3 days before I went, for less than £30 with unlimited bus travel at the other end.

 

[BentMikey]

95 miles x 2 x 0.45 gives a more realistic cost of £86.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

the RFU set the mileage rate for refs like me at 36ppm. supposed to be the 'no profit no loss' mileage rate