3 ms·

Rail travel is one of the few things that's cheaper now I live in Denmark compared to the UK. A ticket for the next direct train (16:42, peak time) from Copenh

by Symbiote 11mo ago

Rail travel is one of the few things that's cheaper now I live in Denmark compared to the UK. A ticket for the next direct train (16:42, peak time) from Copenhagen to Århus is 449kr, £53. That's 300km in 3 hours. London to Manchester is the same distance, 2¼ hours, and £193.

wtcactus 11mo ago
Hum, there are a lot of trains from London to Manchester today for between 42-47£. Those do take 3h45m. But there are also trains for £80 that take 2h11m. https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/journey-planner/?type=single&origin=182&destination=115&leavingType=departing&leavingDate=131125&leavingHour=15&leavingMin=15&returnHour=&returnMin=&adults=1&extraTime=0#O https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/journey-planner/?type=single&...
- Symbiote 11mo ago
  Yes. I didn't see the slow trains, it looks like they were hidden from my search. (Also bear in mind the median income after tax is 50% higher in Denmark.)
  - hexbin010 11mo ago
    > it looks like they were hidden from my search I don't blame you. They do make it VERY hard to find and buy that particular cheaper ticket Ticket websites generally assume you have unlimited funds and want the fastest route, always.
- hexbin010 11mo ago
  > Hum, there are a lot of trains from London to Manchester today for between 42-47£. Those do take 3h45m. Those are indirect train services. That can also be the return price, which is very very good value. You do have to be careful with travelling the right route and company
pm215 11mo ago
This is partly because of the UK's ticketing system, which (like airline prices) heavily discounts for people who can book ahead and travel at off-peak hours. If you're able to do that, then for instance, right now you can get a ticket from Euston to Manchester on Weds 10th December mid-morning for 35 quid. If you're really price sensitive you can get there for just 14 quid (you have to change at Crewe and take an extra hour and a half of journey time). The downside of this pricing system is (a) everybody complains about its complexity (b) if you really do need to travel at peak time or at very short notice you're going to pay a lot (c) it's really easy to make it look like it's a terrible rip-off by quoting the anytime walkup fare for an intercity journey :-)
- Symbiote 11mo ago
  Denmark also does this — Copenhagen to Århus on 10 December at 10:52 is £16 if purchased now. My example wasn't especially ridiculous. Try something like Stansted Airport to Birmingham — 200km, 45 minutes slower than driving, and £97 — or £67 off peak. The other ridiculous feature of British train tickets is when some return tickets cost just £1 more than a single ticket.

wtcactus 11mo ago

Hum, there are a lot of trains from London to Manchester today for between 42-47£. Those do take 3h45m. But there are also trains for £80 that take 2h11m. https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/journey-planner/?type=single&origin=182&destination=115&leavingType=departing&leavingDate=131125&leavingHour=15&leavingMin=15&returnHour=&returnMin=&adults=1&extraTime=0#O https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/journey-planner/?type=single&...

Symbiote 11mo ago
Yes. I didn't see the slow trains, it looks like they were hidden from my search. (Also bear in mind the median income after tax is 50% higher in Denmark.)
- hexbin010 11mo ago
  > it looks like they were hidden from my search I don't blame you. They do make it VERY hard to find and buy that particular cheaper ticket Ticket websites generally assume you have unlimited funds and want the fastest route, always.
hexbin010 11mo ago
> Hum, there are a lot of trains from London to Manchester today for between 42-47£. Those do take 3h45m. Those are indirect train services. That can also be the return price, which is very very good value. You do have to be careful with travelling the right route and company

pm215 11mo ago

This is partly because of the UK's ticketing system, which (like airline prices) heavily discounts for people who can book ahead and travel at off-peak hours. If you're able to do that, then for instance, right now you can get a ticket from Euston to Manchester on Weds 10th December mid-morning for 35 quid. If you're really price sensitive you can get there for just 14 quid (you have to change at Crewe and take an extra hour and a half of journey time). The downside of this pricing system is (a) everybody complains about its complexity (b) if you really do need to travel at peak time or at very short notice you're going to pay a lot (c) it's really easy to make it look like it's a terrible rip-off by quoting the anytime walkup fare for an intercity journey :-)

Symbiote 11mo ago
Denmark also does this — Copenhagen to Århus on 10 December at 10:52 is £16 if purchased now. My example wasn't especially ridiculous. Try something like Stansted Airport to Birmingham — 200km, 45 minutes slower than driving, and £97 — or £67 off peak. The other ridiculous feature of British train tickets is when some return tickets cost just £1 more than a single ticket.