coaches cheaper than trains

[Mich the Tester]

That would place you in Eindhoven?

No, but about as far from A'dam.

[KentPhilip]

I can roll up at the station, buy a ticket on the day to go to Amsterdam and back, which is a round trip of about 220 kms

That would place you in Eindhoven?

[MrMark]

Network Rail is transporting 200 staff by coach from Reading to Coventry for a conference because of the high cost of train tickets, it has emerged.

Why don't they just move the conference to Reading (or split in two if necessary)?

[Mich the Tester]

135 quid for a return from Reading to Coventry?

FFS, it's not as if Reading and Coventry are really all that far apart; about 60 miles or so? How in the name of Beelzebub can it cost 135 quid to transport one person, by rail, 120 miles?

You could hire a bleeding S-class limo for everyone and it would still be cheaper than the train.

Sorry, I live in Foreignland where the trains are affordable. I can roll up at the station, buy a ticket on the day to go to Amsterdam and back, which is a round trip of about 220 kms, first class, and it costs me about 50 euros (35 quid or so). And people here complain about the price of trains.

[minestrone]

Network Rail said it looks at cheaper options for journeys as part of cost-cutting, as its workers do not get free travel or discounts.

That is rubbish, see them all the time getting away with fares. Sitting in first class as well.

[Paddy]

.. even for a train staff conference !!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/8354358.stm

In the same way it is cheaper send bogie wheels, shunt engines etc by road to the repair depot.

[chef]

.. even for a train staff conference !!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/8354358.stm