Under government control I could go from near Scotland to near Dover on an open return for £80.
Under the privatised service the same tickets cost £260.
Now it’s back in the last resort umbrella, it’s £160 at short notice and under £100 if booked in advance.
Subsidies and costs haven’t changed. The rolling stock is the same. The only thing we’re missing (or not!) is a markup so ludicrous it got cheaper to fly to anywhere in western Europe than take a 400 mile round trip to London by train.
It was so expensive I started getting trains to London on a Sunday and staying full board in a London hotel because it was cheaper than getting the first train.
And that’s exactly why the government would step in and put controls on pricing, as outlined in my previous comment. But remember, the subsidies come from the taxpayers. Don’t get me wrong...I like low prices even if someone else is paying it. I hate that you’re getting stuck though. Hey...remember Freddy Lakers’ Skytrain? Those were the days.
We’re in Charlotte. Our oldest daughter is Army and has been at two different posts in Virginia the last 3 years or so. The drives were 5-6 hours. She and her husband and “The Grandkids” are moving to FT Bragg next month.
Grandma HAS TO SEE the grandkids on a regular basis, so I’ve been putting her on a plane most of the time. We bank airmiles just for that purpose. A RT ticket to Virginia is usually 12.5 to 20,000. I checked the airmile fares to Fayetteville...38-40,000. Dollar prices were around $400! Bear in mind, we’re a 2.5 hour drive from Fayetteville. A flight is an hour (not including drop off and pickup time. Maybe airmile/$$ prices will drop because they do fluctuate.
So, I started casting about for alternatives. Bus was $47 with a 5 hour trip. Train was $53 with a 9 hour trip!
Looks like Grandma will be driving to see “The Grandkids”!