Reply to: How far would you travel on a daily basis for a contract?

[ChimpMaster]

For several years it's been 1hr 20 train each way into London for me.

Now moving into a new contract which will be 1hr 30 drive each way. I would much rather do the train journey as it's easy to sleep/read/play games etc. But we can't always choose, and the higher rate helps.

I'm not sure how long I can keep up a 3 hour drive on a daily basis - I can imagine that it'll become vey very tiring after a few weeks.

[SueEllen]

I find I can do an hour on a longterm basis but it doesn't take much more than that even 10-15 mins before it starts to become annoying after a while. Think people in/around London are used to longer as a 'fact of life'. Currently 20 mins drive through leafy cheshire - lovely....

Average i.e. median commuting times for those in the M25 area always works out to be 10 minutes longer than anywhere else.

I don't know how they do those surveys though as I know quite a few people who work at home 80%+ of the time.

Anyway in London and the SE if you work out your best commuting time when driving is 50 minutes then with traffic it can easily double.

[Sysman]

I used to commute daily from Swindon to Slough. Around 1.5 hours each way for normal congestion. Had to be an early start due to the traffic, and it was always bad on the way back too. Made for a 12-hour day. We had a small baby at the time too so very knackering.

Congestion has got worse since I did Swindon to West London then.

The lack of speed cameras back then helped, obviously.

[lukemg]

I find I can do an hour on a longterm basis but it doesn't take much more than that even 10-15 mins before it starts to become annoying after a while. Think people in/around London are used to longer as a 'fact of life'. Currently 20 mins drive through leafy cheshire - lovely....

[d000hg]

Driving... an hour at the very most, 45min is too much.
By train with no stops, 90min to 2 hours provided I could travel 1st - sleep or read my book or work on the laptop - basically what I would be doing at home.

[shaunbhoy]

That clever Mr Brunel has improved journey times considerably since then.

Not on the M4 he hasn't!!

[Old Greg]

Staying in a hotel just to charge up your gadgets is a bit extreme isn't it?

The battery packs on those 1st generation pacemakers run down quickly.

[northernladuk]

I used to commute daily from Swindon to Slough. Around 1.5 hours each way for normal congestion. Had to be an early start due to the traffic, and it was always bad on the way back too. Made for a 12-hour day. We had a small baby at the time too so very knackering.
I found that staying away 1 night a week helped me recharge my batteries though. Might be worth considering.

Staying in a hotel just to charge up your gadgets is a bit extreme isn't it?

[Old Greg]

I used to commute daily from Swindon to Slough. Around 1.5 hours each way for normal congestion. Had to be an early start due to the traffic, and it was always bad on the way back too. Made for a 12-hour day. We had a small baby at the time too so very knackering.
I found that staying away 1 night a week helped me recharge my batteries though. Might be worth considering.

That clever Mr Brunel has improved journey times considerably since then.

[norrahe]

2 hours each way every day and have been doing that on and off for 7 years

[shaunbhoy]

I used to commute daily from Swindon to Slough. Around 1.5 hours each way for normal congestion. Had to be an early start due to the traffic, and it was always bad on the way back too. Made for a 12-hour day. We had a small baby at the time too so very knackering.
I found that staying away 1 night a week helped me recharge my batteries though. Might be worth considering.

[doodab]

Exactly. Not ideal but situation depending.

Nah. Dont agree with the car thing. Cant kip when your driving !!! But then 1 hour in car is better than 2 hours on train. (Unfortunately, it'd be more like 3 hours+ to drive to London for me).

Driving to London also gets expensive with parking.

[psychocandy]

For me it depends on the contract an my situation. If I had been on the bench for 3 months + and warchest disappearing then would seriously consider it. If it is a great opportunity/new technology etc then again I would consider it. Saying that I haven't had a single contract in the last 4 years that was under an hour and a half on a clear day. All have been flexible with time so I can miss rush hour spots and all had a reasonable WFH policy so 1.5 hrs is pretty standard nowadays.

One thing that does hack me off is buggering about with buses, trams, train etc. Would much rather do long commute in the car than doing public transport.

Exactly. Not ideal but situation depending.

Nah. Dont agree with the car thing. Cant kip when your driving !!! But then 1 hour in car is better than 2 hours on train. (Unfortunately, it'd be more like 3 hours+ to drive to London for me).

[psychocandy]

I currently do East Midlands to London which is a 2 hour commute (4 hours per day). Been doing it for a year and just signed a 6 month extension.

It is hard going but the rate I can get in London makes it worth it – my plan was to do this for max a year but a rate increase and 6 months extension doing very little persuaded me otherwise!!

The 1.15 train journey is not too bad actually, I watch movies or read and my wife always has tea on the table when I get home at 7.30pm so it can work ok - just get frustrated at tiredness and missing out on going out etc but I got into debt so can't blame anyone else!!

Not sure if I'd do it just for a better rate but possibly if I had to. i.e. couldnt get closer contract.

[alreadypacked]

I guess what you are prepared to do, depends on if you have to do it.