Today I thought I'd find out the cost of a train from Perth to Bath as I would like to visit some friends for a few days. The thought of driving the M6 once it goes past Preston isn't something which thrills me, hanging around an airport for hours isn't fun any more, boat is impractical although could be organised I expect if I had a few thousand to spare, so the train seemed the sensible mode of transport.
Before I continue I have to say I haven't been on a lengthy train journey for at least 20 years. Plenty jaunts to Edinburgh or Glasgow but nothing further afield by rail. So I started searching for the best price (first priority) and length of journey (second priority). That's when the nightmare began. Truthfully I still haven't worked out the cost because there are so many variables in play. I can travel to Glasgow and change there for Bristol, then Bath or I can go Glasgow, Crewe, Bristol, Bath and so on and on and on. When I was young I used to travel from Edinburgh to Taunton in Somerset quite regularly for a year or two, with one change at Glasgow then the Plymouth express all the way. Comfortable, lovely dining car and it was on time. Oh happy days.
It's time I faced up to modern travel but has rail travel improved in the past 30 years? The time-tabling certainly hasn't, it's like a serious crossword.
It's possibly best I stick to driving and the advantages of being able to pack as much as I like plus, if the mood takes me, I can drift off the M6. So much for doing my best to be green.
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I remember dining cars. Hell, I remember steam choo-choos. No elegance in rail travel anymore.
Railways are strictly for short trips to the nearby seaside, any further is just too complicated, expensive and unreliable.
Subrosa, advise you hire a van, take the dining table down to Bristol (or was it bringing it up?), and in a big white van (a Mercedes Sprinter, say) you'll feel right at home on the M6 :0)
In 1972 I took the train from Toronto to Vancouver - a distance of 2,100 miles. Great journey. I've driven it and flown it many times since, but nothing compares to that original trip. It was group of seven material.
Its gonna cost more than you think..of that i am sure
Oh Scunnert I do too. The smokey smell that filled your nostrils, the solidity of the doors and these thick leather straps which operated the windows. Then of course the comfort of the well sprung seats and for children, the ability to wander up and down the corridors without disturbing anyone. I remember every year going to the old Dundee east station and prising my granny and grandpa onto the Aberdeen train for their yearly holiday on Deeside. My grandpa was a first class fisherman so all his gear had to be loaded on too but that was put in the guard's van. Yes indeed, those were the days rail travel was the height of elegance and excitement.
Banned that's the only way I use them nowadays, especially with the mess of Edinburgh where it's useless taking a car.
Stuart, that is my very nightmare! I've decided the recipient will have to arrange it himself. If he'd bought a decent sized car recently instead of a BMW Z4, then it could have been there by now. Mind you, on Christmas Day I felt like royalty driving through town with the top down :)
Niko I never got as far as pricing the journey properly. My wee car does 55mph so I'm sure that's the cheapest way. I know the road well, even used to drive it when it was the A6 then the A38. Not that long ago or was it?
It'll cost you a fortune! Have you considered the bus/coach?
Rab I thought about coach but to be honest I'm far too old to be bothered with even one screaming child on a long distance coach journey these days. I can remember many journeys back in the 60s from Victoria to Edinburgh where either drunks or children made life hell.
No I think coach is for the youth these days. Good prices though I do admit.
I've lightened up after my rant about the G20
Bot a train journey but, have been over The Andes in a taxi!
Mendoza to Santiago in an 8 hour journey.
Two of us and it cost a total of $100.
Best $100 I ever spent.
No trains available
Got to say, i quite fancied going by train when i went to see relatives in Oxford about 7 years ago. At about £120 return, i thought no thanks, and flew down for about £90.
Oh FC you lucky man. I would have loved that. I did that trip many years ago in a bus (not a coach) and although I suffer from vertigo, it was one of the most amazing bus trips I've had. Taxi would have been far better of course :)
It's such a shame the rail network is in so much of a mess Allan and so expensive. Didn't Mrs Thatcher say if it was privatised it would be cheaper?
Goota say, I love train rides...that Toronto to Vancouver ride is still a very nice ride...my dream is to ride the train from Beijing to London and then fly from ther to to North America. Something to be said about Train rides... Damn the expenses anyways...just enjoy life as you can't take it with you
British trains aren't so comfortable Baron unless you pay through the nose for first class. The days are gone when train travel here was a pleasant experience. I only want to go 400 miles and have to change trains at least twice. As I said 40 years ago it was only once so things haven't improved here.
I went to Bradford last year on the train. Virgin. 3 trains to get there and two back. Unbelievably every single train was late! Nightmare never to be repeated.
Two years ago in Geneva, I was stuck in a taxi in a traffic jam at about 6.45, going for the 7 pm Paris train. The driver was doing his best; he knew we only had 15 minutes. I said, "well, maybe the train will be late...." The driver nearly crashed. Late trains seem to be a hanging offence in Switzerland. He understood, though, after I explained that I was "Britannique".
Tris I used to travel on German and Swiss rail quite a bit. If one was late, as you say it was headlines.
Also they were and still are far superior to our quality of service and comfort.
This just brought to mind arriving at Milan Railway Station C.1980 ( still a memorial to Mussolini and facism but never mind ) in plenty of time for my train only to be told " The train has gone, he was ready so he went ".
Is this working?
Yeah! It works. Greetings Subrosa from Hoots/Meths/Hugh Roscombe et al.
Greetings Hoots, Meths, High et al. How good of you to find me. Hopefully you'll find something to get your knashers into. My readers are very informed and enjoy debate.
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