Suburban Chimp - Finance & Social Commentary

Isn’t it boring when you think about doing the right think and you can’t justify it because the world seems to be totally against you? OK, not the entire world, but just the train system in the UK in this case. My mother was looking to travel to Wales to visit some relative on short notice, (a funeral) and she was quoted over £140 for the trip. Now, if you book in advance you can get the tickets cheaper, but that’s not really the point is it? If we in the UK are actively trying to get people to take public transport instead of jumping in the car then we need to be trying a lot harder and making public transport cheaper. Put it in perspective, my mother can hire a car for about £60, stick a tank full of petrol in it for £40 and still have £40 left over. Not only that, the car is quicker. Two, to three hours instead of the four (there are a few changes on the train journey). Remind me again, what’s the incentive to take the train, if it is slow, expensive and no doubt over crowded. Now, let’s presume I want to travel to Wales with my mother. That’s double. The car hire costs do not double though, do they? Let us also just presume I decide to take my car. Service costs and wear and tear aside, a tank of gas for two from empty is £40, the train for two is pushing £300. Hardly good value. I could probably fly to New York for that. This just reeks of silliness and greediness.