4 ms·

Most metro stations have a much simpler way for travellers to figure out what to do: of loads people who do know how it works, ahead of and beside you.

ghaff 2y ago
It's getting better but, in my experience, once metro systems got away from manned booths and tokens, the systems worked fine for commuters but led to lots of fumbling and long lines for tourists. Trains in the UK still have a certain amount of "Which of these tickets/receipts go where?" while a line of irritated locals is building up behind you. Fortunately, also being the UK, someone will help you if you're struggling with something sooner rather than later.
- djbusby 2y ago
  With a requisite amount of Tsk-ing I hope.
  - ghaff 2y ago
    Not really. My last trip to the UK I ended up--because of a complicated trip--with more of a bag than I should really have had on public transit. I was actually a bit embarrassed but a few folks were super-helpful with tube stations that were, shall we say, not exactly mobility friendly.
    - seabass-labrax 2y ago
      I'm not a Londoner, but I am British, and so feel qualified to say that you don't need to feel embarrassed :) I've travelled with over 100L of luggage on the Tube before - it's my contribution to the trains' traction!
- oopsallmagic 2y ago
  Is that the fault of the system, or the fault of the tourists for visiting a new place and not reading up on local customs?
  - varenc 2y ago
    I always read up on how the local transit system works when I visit a new place. But that’s never adequately prepared me to smoothly use a public bus like a local would the very first time. Some transit systems are just inherently more confusing than others. It doesn’t matter to the locals who know the quirks, but that doesn’t mean something can’t be improved. NYC has a great subway system, but I find the signage and general wayfinding quite lacking. Tokyo’s system is on a similar level of complexity but has excellent wayfinding and is generally much easier for a tourist to use.
  - Aeolun 2y ago
    “Make the damn train work” is not a local custom. Aside from that the UK rail system is so complicated and expensive you’d expect a manned gate at every station at the least. £150 from London to Leeds?! I can fly halfway across Europe for less…
    - seabass-labrax 2y ago
      £165.90, to be precise (anytime single). Or, if you travel late-morning to early-afternoon, £70.20 (super off-peak single). By booking weeks or months in advance, you can travel for as little as £22.50 (advance single). The unofficial BR Fares[1] website does a lot to untangle the complexity, although it can only do so much to mitigate the expense. [1]: https://www.brfares.com/ https://www.brfares.com/
      - ghaff 2y ago
        Making purchases ahead varies quite a bit across Europe. The UK seems to fall pretty hard on the you really should buy well in advance side or you're going to pay through the nose. I used to work with someone who, even on an expense account, would roll their eyes if someone wanted them to do a last minute trip to London.
        seabass-labrax 2y ago
        Indeed! Travelling last-minute, you could even be 'quids in' by popping over to the continent for an afternoon so that you'd be eligible for an Interrail ticket: 4-Day Interrail Global Pass, Adult passenger: €283 Eurostar seat reservation (any destination) x2: €060 = €340 (~£288) Nearly fifty pounds less than the price of two Leeds <-> London Anytime Single fares, £331.80! And since hotel rooms in London aren't cheap either, you might even save money by staying the night in Lille rather than London. Kings Cross is part of the same station complex as the Eurostar departures at St. Pancras, so you would save money, spend less than three additional hours travelling and not even risk getting rained on. This is Hacker News, but even still, I feel kind of icky suggesting a 500-kilometre detour to save money on a journey between two British cities no further than that distance from each other. How I wish we could just have a British version of the Austrian 'climate ticket' and leave all of our inscrutable rail fares behind us!

ghaff 2y ago

It's getting better but, in my experience, once metro systems got away from manned booths and tokens, the systems worked fine for commuters but led to lots of fumbling and long lines for tourists. Trains in the UK still have a certain amount of "Which of these tickets/receipts go where?" while a line of irritated locals is building up behind you. Fortunately, also being the UK, someone will help you if you're struggling with something sooner rather than later.

djbusby 2y ago
With a requisite amount of Tsk-ing I hope.
- ghaff 2y ago
  Not really. My last trip to the UK I ended up--because of a complicated trip--with more of a bag than I should really have had on public transit. I was actually a bit embarrassed but a few folks were super-helpful with tube stations that were, shall we say, not exactly mobility friendly.
  - seabass-labrax 2y ago
    I'm not a Londoner, but I am British, and so feel qualified to say that you don't need to feel embarrassed :) I've travelled with over 100L of luggage on the Tube before - it's my contribution to the trains' traction!
oopsallmagic 2y ago
Is that the fault of the system, or the fault of the tourists for visiting a new place and not reading up on local customs?
- varenc 2y ago
  I always read up on how the local transit system works when I visit a new place. But that’s never adequately prepared me to smoothly use a public bus like a local would the very first time. Some transit systems are just inherently more confusing than others. It doesn’t matter to the locals who know the quirks, but that doesn’t mean something can’t be improved. NYC has a great subway system, but I find the signage and general wayfinding quite lacking. Tokyo’s system is on a similar level of complexity but has excellent wayfinding and is generally much easier for a tourist to use.
- Aeolun 2y ago
  “Make the damn train work” is not a local custom. Aside from that the UK rail system is so complicated and expensive you’d expect a manned gate at every station at the least. £150 from London to Leeds?! I can fly halfway across Europe for less…
  - seabass-labrax 2y ago
    £165.90, to be precise (anytime single). Or, if you travel late-morning to early-afternoon, £70.20 (super off-peak single). By booking weeks or months in advance, you can travel for as little as £22.50 (advance single). The unofficial BR Fares[1] website does a lot to untangle the complexity, although it can only do so much to mitigate the expense. [1]: https://www.brfares.com/ https://www.brfares.com/
    - ghaff 2y ago
      Making purchases ahead varies quite a bit across Europe. The UK seems to fall pretty hard on the you really should buy well in advance side or you're going to pay through the nose. I used to work with someone who, even on an expense account, would roll their eyes if someone wanted them to do a last minute trip to London.
      - seabass-labrax 2y ago
        Indeed! Travelling last-minute, you could even be 'quids in' by popping over to the continent for an afternoon so that you'd be eligible for an Interrail ticket: 4-Day Interrail Global Pass, Adult passenger: €283 Eurostar seat reservation (any destination) x2: €060 = €340 (~£288) Nearly fifty pounds less than the price of two Leeds <-> London Anytime Single fares, £331.80! And since hotel rooms in London aren't cheap either, you might even save money by staying the night in Lille rather than London. Kings Cross is part of the same station complex as the Eurostar departures at St. Pancras, so you would save money, spend less than three additional hours travelling and not even risk getting rained on. This is Hacker News, but even still, I feel kind of icky suggesting a 500-kilometre detour to save money on a journey between two British cities no further than that distance from each other. How I wish we could just have a British version of the Austrian 'climate ticket' and leave all of our inscrutable rail fares behind us!