Rail now easily beating air on London<>Edinburgh journeys

[pogofish]

Last Scotland-bound train out of London on a Friday night is infamous for its well-refreshed clientele. I've done it sober. Never again.

Try the trains south from Aberdeen on Friday nights/Saturdays when the rigs change-over. Now that's well-refreshed!

 

[pogofish]

Not entirely true - the ticket split websites can mostly do as well as, or better than, folks like I can, now.

But, as I repeatedly say, I don't defend the complexity of what we have - it's a complete mess and it shouldn't be like this.

Split ticketing can't really be something to take forward though. IIRC a large part of the impetus for the upcoming rail reforms/changes are a result of the desire to eliminate split ticketing, which apparently has hit them hard.

 

[Spymaster]

Split ticketing can't really be something to take forward though. IIRC a large part of the impetus for the upcoming rail reforms/changes are a result of the desire to eliminate split ticketing, which apparently has hit them hard.

The fact that split-ticketing is even a thing shows what an absolute nonsense train travel in the UK is. Any other mode of transport you look on a website and within a few seconds have a pretty good idea of the costs and times of travel and can book, usually without too much fear of being ripped-off. With trains you might as well draw fucking straws. People like teuchter, look for cheaper fares on websites, not because they need to but because they like to. It's what they do on Sunday afternoons even when it's not them who's travelling. They're weirdos. Some people like goat porn; that doesn't mean everyone should have to watch it.

 

[pogofish]

Yup - The popularity of split ticketing and the numbers of people now depending on it has IMO drawn attention away from the complete mess rail pricing/service structuring is stuck-in.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

What these surveys never take in to account is that should you choose to travel by train you run the risk of being sat next to teuchter for hours on end. That is unacceptable, consequently on my trip to Glasgow in December I shall be flying.

 

[teuchter]

Of course, if you want to travel from central London to central Edinburgh using the plane, you have to engage in split ticketing - I don't believe there is any website that can sell you the complete journey on one ticket. Nor can the multiple tickets necessary be bought such that all connections are guaranteed; that is, if you miss one leg due to the prior one being delayed, your journey can be completed at no extra cost.

 

[friedaweed]

Ma and Pa had a week in Edinburgh last month. They head to Highlands about twice a year for their hols. I always cover their travel, usually filling the tank up as they take the dog and Ma likes to be mobile if she's in the far north.

I said seen as they were only heading to Edinburgh (Leith to be precise) I'd pay for the train or fly them up to save Ma the hassle. The train for the two of them was over £300 even with a railcard and flights we're cheaper but more hassle and would of taken longer than the train with check in times and transfers + the dog problem.

In the end I just gave them the £300 and told them to spend the rest on a fish supper.

I don't think flying or getting the train is as straightforward as it was.

 

[Sue]

I said seen as they were only heading to Edinburgh (Leith to be precise)

 

[xenon]

If I were going from London, I'd use the train.

From Bristol to Scotland it's still cheaper and more convenient to fly. I flew to and back from Glasgow a few months ago.

 

[Spymaster]

I don't think flying or getting the train is as straightforward as it was.

Flying has become significantly more straightforward. You can book excellent value tickets in a few keystrokes, check-in and download your tickets to an app, and never have to leave your armchair. Most (not all) airports nowadays are a breeze to navigate and a pleasure to spend time at if you do a little planning. In train stations you'll likely be hanging out with pissheads and teuchter.

 

[Pickman's model]

What these surveys never take in to account is that should you choose to travel by train you run the risk of being sat next to teuchter for hours on end. That is unacceptable, consequently on my trip to Glasgow in December I shall be flying.

doubtless teuchter keeps a ready stock of moomin porn to deter seat sitters

 

[friedaweed]

Flying has become significantly more straightforward. You can book excellent value tickets in a few keystrokes, check-in and download your tickets to an app, and never have to leave your armchair. Most (not all) airports nowadays are a breeze to navigate and a pleasure to spend time at if you do a little planning. In train stations you'll likely be hanging out with pissheads and teuchter.

Yeah I get all that but I'm talking about more recently. The big Swede was here the other week and he got seriously fucked about at Manchester on his way home and he was only handluggage.
The staffing levels at some airports are such that they're training the sniffer dogs to work shifts in duty free.

 

[Dogsauce]

Last Scotland-bound train out of London on a Friday night is infamous for its well-refreshed clientele. I've done it sober. Never again.

A friend used to do Edinburgh-Leeds regularly, he’d grumble that there were always boisterous types getting on at Newcastle with bags of cans, pretty much any time of the day.