A few weeks ago I was going to see a Rugby match in Cardiff, (I live in North Wales about 140 miles away) I usually drive down in my FF and probably spend about £60 in fuel. I was going with 3 mates, I offered to drive but they decided it would be more fun on the train, as we could all relax and drink beers etc.

The train tickets were £72 each but I relented and agreed to travel down with them. On the day, the train turned up at our station completely full. We had to stand all the way there (about 2.5 hours). The return train was also full and we stood up all the way back!!

All in all we spend over £280 on train fares and had an extremely uncomfortable journey. We could have travelled in comfort for a quarter of the cost! No longer FF owner but still interested. Present car Jaguar XE
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stan wrote:

i have heard of this strange phenomenon called 'public transport' a few times now, what is it exactly?

I understand it is something one's servants use.  John
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I'm definitely using the RR next time

I occasionally have the misfortune to necessitate use of public cattle trucks between Coventry & Reading.
The direct ticket 1 way is £90 odd but if I get a ticket Coventry-Banbury then Banbury- Reading its £35!!
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I'm working at the moment out in Dunkerque so using a combo of TGV, Eurostar and First Great Western. The TGV from Dunkerque to Lille is brilliant, 30 minutes, bang on time, cheap (8 euros), Eurostar is OK, usually on time (migrants on the roof permitting!), where it all turns to rat is from Paddington to Westbury! Talk about a rip off!

I hit 60 in February so a couple of months ago admitted defeat and spent 30 quid on a Senior Railcard, its already saved me about 70 quid on rail fares!

I used a train once......

Then i discovered cars...... Much better. though you do have to stop to take a .

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Public transport is often cheaper for long journeys, where only one person is travelling.

As soon as there are more of you it all goes wrong. Where your cost perhead is divided by the number of people until the car is full, on the train it is multiplied.

This added to the crazy and convoluted way tickets are priced and advertised (or not) means that you rarely get the best deal in any case.

Our local guided bus route is a case in point. Lots of signs at the stops telling you that you must buy from the automated machines, none of which seem to offer the all day travel pass option. Ask the driver and he will sell you one with no problems.

Of course the only way to learn this is when you present your more expensive machine bought ticket and the helpful driver tells you this!

OK I admit, I have taken the train more than once to go up to Paris. 86 euro, 2 1/2 hours great comfort, going by car 5 hours, no where to park and costs a lot more.

But I also have to admit that I really hope that I never have to be on public transport going to work or intra muros

Sorry to hear of the troubles some of you have experienced.

I have travelled many miles on our railway network and gained much knowledge on fares validity which has often helped me to save money. We do have a complex fares system in this country, and it is all too easy to end up with the wrong ticket, even through no-ones fault. If anyone should ever want any (impartial) advice or reassurance on such matters, or run into trouble with a TOC, please feel free to ask.

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That sounds like a FGW 125 train! The toilets still dump directly onto the tracks!!!!

You'd be greatful for it though, when a guard announces that there will be no toilets available [for the next 3 hours] because there wasn't time to empty the tanks...  Visiting from DISCO3.CO.UK
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