Ok so this is possibly quite a boring blog topic but the price of trains has really got my goat this week. The plan for weeks has been to go to Newcastle this Friday to celebrate my best friends birthday. However, due to the funeral of our friend (who you would have read about in the earlier blog) not being confirmed for ages I didnt want to book my tickets jut incase I couldnt make it. But then when I went to book my tickets, it was going to cost £93! Why is it that if I had booked my tickets weeks ago they would have been so much cheaper…its clearly not going to cost £93 per person to run a train up to Newcastle and back. The thing that really annoys me is the fact that the government are all about us trying to act on CO2 emmissions and use public transport. But why then is it so bloody expensive! I mean, I used to get the bus into college everyday. But it used to cost the same amount to get the freezing cold, uncomfortable bus which took almost two hours to get into college, as it did to drive in my comfortable warm car which got me there alot quicker than the bus did. And the bus was always late too. So why then would I pay a ridiculous amount of money to get on the bus when I have my own, much more convenient method of travel.
As a student, sleep and money are two of the most important things in my life and both are something I have a distinct lack of. I’m hardly going to be enthused by the thought of getting up an extra hour early and pay more money in order to go and stand at the bus stop 15 minutes before the bus is due in case it’s early, which is a regular occurance. Or stand there for an hour because the bus hasnt shown up, which is a just as regulAar occurance. I mean, why would I do that when I can stay in bed until the last possible second and then get into my car and whack the radio and heat up and go exactly where I want to go and be there on time (ish…I’m always late whatever but at least its my own fault.) I dont want to have to get up early and deal with grumpy bus drivers, loud people and numb toes of a morning.
I know that trains are better than buses, but they’re still not as conveniant as a car. For example, lugging my stuff on and off three trains to get to uni isnt exaclty my idea of fun. I pay all that money and yet there’s not enough luggage space and I end up holding up the entire coach while I attempt to rearrange the tiny suitcases taking up the luggage rack so I can fit my beast of a suitcase on. I’ve discovered this year that it’s easier to chuck my suitcase in the boot of my car and drive. It’s quicker, easier, and although it’s slightly more expensive, it’s not enough of a significant difference to make me want to take the inconvenience.
Even student discount on travel would make a bit of a difference. The bus service from my village to Cambridge is absolutely rubbish. It actually costs more to get the bus than it does to drive and it takes double the time. With trains you have to pay for the discount card so its hardly a deal.
In my opinion, if the government are so bothered about our “carbon footprint” and reducing it, then maybe they should do more and give more incentives to make us stop and do something about it.
Rant over.
One Comment
srsly, 5 pound for a return