How much does a train from Cornwall to Scotland cost?

[DimPrawn]

They are taking people for a ride.

I think you are on the right track there.

[gingerjedi]

I didn't know the Orient Express went to Scotland?

[TimberWolf]

P.S. Planning to spend around £1000 to travel by train from Birmingham to Moscow and back later this year...

Any idea how much of that fare is subsided by the various countries you travel through?

[BoredBloke]

Bargain indeed. Plus the added bonus that 'Cross Country Trains, which sells the ticket, said an advance fare was available for £561'

Fark me, that's ridiculous.

I love that comment from them though as though 561 is a reasonable amount to pay! You could fly to somewhere good for that rather than sit of a series of skanky trains rumbling over victorian tracks which may or may not get you to your desired destination.

[TimberWolf]

I love that comment from them though as though 561 is a reasonable amount to pay! You could fly to somewhere good for that rather than sit of a series of skanky trains rumbling over victorian tracks which may or may not get you to your desired destination.

The article also mentioned the punter, I mean passenger, may not even get a seat for the whole journey.

[Pondlife]

I've had many a flight to the US and South America for less than that.

It's just taking the p1ss IMHO.

My regular flights to the mainland are always less than £561 often even for business class.

[AtW]

Any idea how much of that fare is subsided by the various countries you travel through?

Subsidised?

Trains are the cheapest most efficient means of transport (for high volumes at least), it costs blooming £120 to get to London from Brum at peak time (flexible ticket), are you going to tell me that UK Railways are not subsidised? They sure are, but also they are terribly run from commercial point of view, partly due to Govt's involvement.

[TimberWolf]

Subsidised?

Trains are the cheapest most efficient means of transport (for high volumes at least), it costs blooming £120 to get to London from Brum at peak time (flexible ticket), are you going to tell me that UK Railways are not subsidised? They sure are, but also they are terribly run from commercial point of view, partly due to Govt's involvement.

No, but I'm wondering if, when all costs of railway transport are taken into account (minus subsidies) whether travel by rail isn't as efficient as might be thought when looking at fuel used. Same kind of argument applied to travel by ship. Even though ships are, apparently, highly efficient in terms of energy used per distance, they travel so slow that capital costs aren't efficiently regained, except for really bulky items. Whereas air travel capital costs may be lower and more quickly recouped.

[Spacecadet]

Subsidised?

Trains are the cheapest most efficient means of transport (for high volumes at least), it costs blooming £120 to get to London from Brum at peak time (flexible ticket), are you going to tell me that UK Railways are not subsidised? They sure are, but also they are terribly run from commercial point of view, partly due to Govt's involvement.

Amsterdam to Brussels will cost you €44 for the return trip

[AtW]

No, but I'm wondering if, when all costs of railway transport are taken into account (minus subsidies) whether travel by rail isn't as efficient as might be thought when looking at fuel used. Same kind of argument applied to travel by ship. Even though ships are, apparently, highly efficient in terms of energy used per distance, they travel so slow that capital costs aren't efficiently regained, except for really bulky items. Whereas air travel capital costs may be lower and more quickly recouped.

I can't be arsed argueing too much about it, so I just went to USA Amtrak and checked how much it costs to get from New York to Los Angeles - top ticket was $303 return. Distance: about 3,000 miles which is 5,000 km.

I doubt they give any subsidies to trains in USA.