the cost of trains is unreal

[NotAllThere]

I asked to the fare, and they told me it was sick squid.

... the cost of trains is surreal.

[swamp]

It's not an intercity service, but the Heathrow Express is also massively overpriced. £16.50 each way means it's cheaper to drive and park your car for a long weekend than it is to get the train.

I think they should give up with rail and turn the tracks into new roads.

[Pickle2]

I said a 'fair price'. I can turn up on the day at Amsterdam Centraal and buy a ticket to Berlin at a normal price, for much less than a flight. If I try to do that in the UK, say from London to Edinburgh, I'll be paying an astronomical fare.

I dunno so much. I just checked, using virgintrains.co.uk and bahn.de

Amsterdeam to berlin
403 miles - 100.20 euros (approx 88 gbp) leaving 10:58am, duration 6:17

London - Edinburgh
408 miles - 107.80 gbp leaving 11:00am, duration 4:20

Theres not much in it, and I would prefer the quicker journey for a few extra quid. Prices are for journeys tomorow, as only the virgin site lets you book online for today (although the virgin price is the same for travel today). I assume the german price is also available on the day at the station.

God, im bored. Client co non-project has turned me into a virtual train spotter.

[Mich the Tester]

I dunno so much. I just checked, using virgintrains.co.uk and bahn.de

Amsterdeam to berlin
403 miles - 100.20 euros leaving 10:58am, duration 6:17

London - Edinburgh
408 miles - 107.80 gbp leaving 11:00am, duration 4:20

Theres not much in it, and I would prefer the quicker journey for a few extra quid. Prices are for journeys tomorow, as only the virgin site lets you book online for today (although the virgin price is the same for travel today). I assume the german price is also available on the day at the station.
God, im bored. Client co non-project has turned me into a virtual train spotter.

That's my point. I don't want to book in advance; if I'm on business my diary can change from day to day and on holiday I like to decide spontaneously on where to go.

[Sysman]

The other factor is the dark side of Thatcherite privatisations: one reason for them was that it felt right to that government, but another was that it made money for the government. In the case of the railways, the franchise costs mean that the train companies are charging huge prices in effect because much of it is going to the Exchequer. Invented by Maggie, but no way was Gordo going to cancel it.

Another problem was that in the run up to privatisation, nobody was investing in rolling stock. This not only left a lot of catching up to do, but by the time the money started flowing again, the UK places making the stuff had closed.

If you get the chance to watch it, there was a good Beeb 2 programme over Christmas, "Ian Hislop Goes Off the Rails", which investigated the background and impact of the 1963 Beeching Report.

[bogeyman]

Cost of trains is unreal.

Phew, you can say that again, this one cost £3M...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/200...ravel.heritage

[crimdon]

The other factor is the dark side of Thatcherite privatisations: one reason for them was that it felt right to that government, but another was that it made money for the government. In the case of the railways, the franchise costs mean that the train companies are charging huge prices in effect because much of it is going to the Exchequer. Invented by Maggie, but no way was Gordo going to cancel it.

Same thing will happen should Dave be elected too. Stuff invented by Gorden is here to stay.

[Pickle2]

That's my point. I don't want to book in advance; if I'm on business my diary can change from day to day and on holiday I like to decide spontaneously on where to go.

OK, but both ticket prices are also available on the day at the station. Neither are "advance" purchases.

[Cyberman]

The railways are highly unionised and thus the workers have good salaries and there are restrictive practices that add enormously to cost year on year. The gold-plated pensions that are a legacy from the public sector also have to be paid for by the traveller. I have a mate that was earning 35K as a ticket clerk 10 years ago.

On top of that, Network Rail which is pseudo-nationalised has been far more expensive to run than the private company, Railtrack ever was, and this is financed via the traveller to a major extent.

The reasons for costly rail services are thus very little to do with privatisation.

[bogeyman]

...I have a mate that was earning 35K as a ticket clerk 10 years ago...

I'd want more than £35K to deal with some of the nasty, arrogant, ignorant oiks who make up a sizable portion of the commuting public. I wouldn't last 3 days without punching someones face - never mind their ticket.