> An example: a 2 hour train journey from London to Manchester (approx 200 miles/321 km) one-way booked for a peak-time slot a week in advance can cost as much

> An example: a 2 hour train journey from London to Manchester (approx 200 miles/321 km) one-way booked for a peak-time slot a week in advance can cost as much as £166 (approx €217 / $235), which is frankly ludicrous. If you want a return then it's double, too, unlike many journeys where the return adds 10p to the cost. If there are two of you, it's actually cheaper to get a taxi (quotes from £250-300 each way). However, one thing to point out is that the £166 price is not an advance fare, that's the anytime ticket. You may have reserved a seat on a particular train but you can travel on any of them (outward journeys on the same day only). Off-peak advance fares go down to about £25 each way.