Travel To London By Train....£176 !

[mikey4444]

I have just booked my day return ticket up to Town for a meeting this Thursday. Because I need to be there at 09:00 I can't get an off-peak ticket, but £176 sounds like an awful lot of money to me. I could fly anywhere in Europe for a lot less than that !

[wolf63]

Do you get the money back from your employer?

[mikey4444]

Yes, but not until the end of August, which I am not happy about at all.

But its the principle that annoys me.

I shall be able to have a booked seat, but when my train get to Bristol Parkway, 1000's of people will try to get on, and almost all of them will stand all the way into Town. And most of then do that every morning. Its only once or twice a year for me, thank goodness !

[Hopkirk]

Almost worth going off peak and staying the night - oh hang on, London hotel prices.

[piggynose]

couchsurfing in London is an option, well its a thought

[Jackdaw33]

Which principle annoys you? The price or the fact that you will not be reimbursed for two months?

[mikey4444]

Jack....I think that paying that much for a 400 mile round trip is ludicrous, when you consider how much further the money would go by air.

The wait for reimbursement is not acceptable, and my first line Boss is escalating the matter for me

[237SJ]

You shouldn`t have to wait two months for your expenses to be reimbursed - that is unacceptable in my book.

[Tilly2]

Have you not got a Senior Railcard, Mikey?

[wolf63]

I was a civil servant and didn't fully appreciate such things as expenses being paid the same day that they were submitted. I also got a final salary pension in 2004 - when I was 40. :-)

[EDDIE51]

Railcards are not valid for travel until after 9am Tilley, not even senior ones!

[mikey4444]

Tilly...yes I do, and my company have saved about 33% on the full fare.

The saving is also available on my one day Travel Card, so that sounds reasonable enough to me. To be honest, I don't travel by rail for my own use, unless its essential, and my company pays for the annual Wrinklies Railcard as well !

But its still an awful lot of money, especially for people who, unlike me, have to meet the bill themselves.

Just noticed an email that says It will be refunded at the end of July, as long as I get my on-line claim in by midnight on Thursday !

[mikey4444]

Wolfie...I am intrigued ! How did you manage to get a final salary pension at age 40 ?

[Jackdaw33]

Does the Great Western Sleeper no longer run?

[wolf63]

I have Manic Depression and I was quite ill at the time. The illness and medication have screwed up my brain and my memory is ***up.

Volunterrone afternoon per week for Oxfan

[wolf63]

My eyesight is dodgy - I volunteer in an Oxfam shop, it is fun.

[mikey4444]

Thanks Wolfie...I didn't know. Hope things are better for you now.

Jack....it only take 3 hours to get to Town from Swansea....not so much a sleeper service, more a "nap" service !

[bednobs]

it honestly mkes you wonder why so many trains are overcrowded.

[mikey4444]

Bednobs........from my meagre experience of trains these last 4-5 years, I think that its because an awful lot of people have no choice.

When my train gets to Bristol Parkway at about 7:30 on Thursday morning, it will be invaded by 1000's of people who live in the West Country, but work up in Town. They have no other alternative to get to work, other than the train.

In some parts of the network its even worse. At least I will have a seat.

[Buenchico]

>>> Railcards are not valid for travel until after 9am Tilley, not even senior ones!

Rubbish, Eddie! There are some time restriction in south east England but, in general, Senior Railcards are valid at all times.

The Anytime Return fare from Swansea to Paddington is £249.00 It's £164.35 with a Senior Railcard (without time restrictions).

If Mikey was happy to sleep on the train, he could have taken the 0352 service ex Swansea, arriving in Paddington at 0730, giving him time to find breakfast before his 0900 meeting, for £46.50 (one way) without a Senior Railcard or for £30.70 with one, by purchasing an Advance ticket. After a day in London, he could return for £60.60(no railcard)/£40.00(railcard) at 1845 or for £46.50/£30.70 at 1915.

So return travel from Swansea (with a railcard) was available for just £61.40.

[sandyRoe]

Chico, that piece of news will brighten Mikey's day no end. :-)