Reply to: 'Capacity crisis looms for Britain's railways'

[AtW]

If that increases the cash flow and means the business stays afloat, and keeps folks in jobs, then that's a good thing.

It's criminal to spend so much money on first class, especially if that happens regularly, ie every day.

It would also be highly inappropriate given current state of economy.

[Board Game Geek]

Who can afford £240 per day train ticket to travel 120 miles one way? Only people who fall into one of the following categories:

1) they waste someone elses money (ie taxpayers)
2) they did not earn their money in the first place

I traveled in 1st class in trains only once - it so happened price was the same as standard rip off, so I decided to give it a go. Ok, it was nice but nothing special - would take for price of standard ticket, but certainly won't buy their full price offer.

And I'd better not see any employees of my firm do that at firm's expense - they can pay their own money if they like it that much.

I think AtW is getting an unnecessary hard time over making sensible business choices in this economic climate.

To be honest, even if we were not in this economic climate, he's still making sensible cash-flow choices.

How can you berate him that ?

After all, a good many of us lay in to EDS or Accidenture for gourging the clients, and squirting money down the drain on insane travel expenses.

AtW, don't get baited by the naysayers. You're nurturing a new business and looking after the pennies wisely. If that increases the cash flow and means the business stays afloat, and keeps folks in jobs, then that's a good thing.

[Scary]

Sit at the bar and spend the difference between 1st and 2nd on tins of wifebeater.

[minestrone]

You can take the man out of the bedsit but you can't take the bedsit out of the man.

[AtW]

Normally when someone here cannot afford something

Who can afford £240 per day train ticket to travel 120 miles one way? Only people who fall into one of the following categories:

1) they waste someone elses money (ie taxpayers)
2) they did not earn their money in the first place

I traveled in 1st class in trains only once - it so happened price was the same as standard rip off, so I decided to give it a go. Ok, it was nice but nothing special - would take for price of standard ticket, but certainly won't buy their full price offer.

And I'd better not see any employees of my firm do that at firm's expense - they can pay their own money if they like it that much.

[minestrone]

It is so refreshing to see a foreigner have a different attitude to our own outlook. Normally when someone here cannot afford something people tend to get embarrassed yet you are quite happy to let people know how poor you are.

[AtW]

is it run by AtW?

I like trains.

[Mich the Tester]

My railway doesn't do first class travel.

is it run by AtW?

[Doggy Styles]

Buy a first class ticket and get some peace.

My railway doesn't do first class travel.

[Mich the Tester]

What's the answer?

Buy a first class ticket and get some peace.

[Mich the Tester]

So, if I went to London every day buying 1st class anytime tickets I'd have to spend £5k on travel per month, or £60k per year.

You don't have a pad in town?

Oh dear. Poor man.

[AtW]

What's the answer?

Law on flexi time - legal right for most to choose time to start work from 8-10am, possibly rotating it once a week. This will spread enough road traffic to deal with congestion.

[Doggy Styles]

Too many people using the trains AND too many people using the roads.

What's the answer?

[AtW]

you have already admitted that you pre book so that is not what you would pay.

You say "admitted" as if I am doing something illegal or dirty.

I do reserve seats usually day before I go: since I use off-peak tickets the prices are the same anyway, I don't want to be suckered into cheaper tickets with exact timings.

Out of interest I just checked 1st class prices for travel 2 weeks from now (surely long enough period to reserve tickets?) - "Cheapest First Class return" is still £240.

Buying single 1st class is £120 for any time (so same as return) or £57 one way fixed time, and £60-100+ another one to return back, still over £120-150.

So, if I went to London every day buying 1st class anytime tickets I'd have to spend £5k on travel per month, or £60k per year.

[minestrone]

FYI the cheapest (thetrainline.com words) 1st class anytime return ticket from Birmingham New Street to London Euston is £240

you have already admitted that you pre book so that is not what you would pay.

First class is nearly always 1/3 more.