3 ms·

This would be great, except if the rent doesn't get you, the train fare will. Coming from the U.S., I had to pick my jaw off the floor when I saw what they cha

by xamuel 11y ago

This would be great, except if the rent doesn't get you, the train fare will. Coming from the U.S., I had to pick my jaw off the floor when I saw what they charge, it's obscene. Say what you will about U.S. public transportation, at least it's cheap. Here in the UK if you so much as glance sideways at a city bus, it'll be five-pounds-change.

Alphasite_ 11y ago
That's a london thing, it's (approximately) only a pound or two in a lot of other places.
Nursie 11y ago
>>if the rent doesn't get you, the train fare will. Hence why I only go there visit friends, I don't work there. Well, I did for a while last year, but the rate on offer was large enough to offset the cost. It wasn't large enough to offset the 3+ hours a day spent in a train though, so I don't do it any more.
Tenoke 11y ago
Eh, all bus journeys in London cost exactly 1.50
- billybofh 11y ago
  Outside of London we were gifted the 'marvels' of deregulation in the 80's though and the prices & service are now pretty bad. I remember watching the minister responsible at the time espousing how marvellous deregulation was going to be and how he'd been inspired after seeing two empty buses going over Tower Bridge - yet London largely escaped despite being the inspiration. Count yourselves lucky ;-) This Guardian piece has some numbers : http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/aug/26/bus-deregulation-outside-london-failure-thinktank http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/aug/26/bus-deregulat...
- pcrh 11y ago
  The underground is £4.80 for a single fare in zones 1-3, £2.30 if you use the oyster; double for return ticket.
  - vilmosi 11y ago
    Yes, but rarely anyone pays that. Mostly because there's a daily cap of less than £10 (depending on which zones you traveled during the day).
    - deleted 11y ago
      [deleted]
jimm 11y ago
Not sure about cheap. I spend about $350/month for the Metro North train ride from Connecticut into NYC, and half the time am riding in the 40-year old cars with dilapidated, uncomfortable seats. The NYC subway just bumped up its rates to $2.75/ride, which means I'm spending around $115/month for the subway. All that, and it takes me two hours door-to-door. I live in Connecticut because the houses are slightly more affordable and my kids can go to decent public schools. As soon as they're out of high school in a few years we're considering moving, but all my contacts and the interesting, well-paying jobs are in NYC.
- xamuel 11y ago
  Steep, but it's about half what I'd pay to go a much shorter distance into London (if I actually went 5 days a week). Replace 'half' with '25%' if we're accounting for exchange rates...

by xamuel 11y ago

Alphasite_ 11y ago

That's a london thing, it's (approximately) only a pound or two in a lot of other places.

Nursie 11y ago

>>if the rent doesn't get you, the train fare will. Hence why I only go there visit friends, I don't work there. Well, I did for a while last year, but the rate on offer was large enough to offset the cost. It wasn't large enough to offset the 3+ hours a day spent in a train though, so I don't do it any more.

Tenoke 11y ago

Eh, all bus journeys in London cost exactly 1.50

billybofh 11y ago
Outside of London we were gifted the 'marvels' of deregulation in the 80's though and the prices & service are now pretty bad. I remember watching the minister responsible at the time espousing how marvellous deregulation was going to be and how he'd been inspired after seeing two empty buses going over Tower Bridge - yet London largely escaped despite being the inspiration. Count yourselves lucky ;-) This Guardian piece has some numbers : http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/aug/26/bus-deregulation-outside-london-failure-thinktank http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/aug/26/bus-deregulat...
pcrh 11y ago
The underground is £4.80 for a single fare in zones 1-3, £2.30 if you use the oyster; double for return ticket.
- vilmosi 11y ago
  Yes, but rarely anyone pays that. Mostly because there's a daily cap of less than £10 (depending on which zones you traveled during the day).
  - deleted 11y ago
    [deleted]

jimm 11y ago

Not sure about cheap. I spend about $350/month for the Metro North train ride from Connecticut into NYC, and half the time am riding in the 40-year old cars with dilapidated, uncomfortable seats. The NYC subway just bumped up its rates to $2.75/ride, which means I'm spending around $115/month for the subway. All that, and it takes me two hours door-to-door. I live in Connecticut because the houses are slightly more affordable and my kids can go to decent public schools. As soon as they're out of high school in a few years we're considering moving, but all my contacts and the interesting, well-paying jobs are in NYC.

xamuel 11y ago
Steep, but it's about half what I'd pay to go a much shorter distance into London (if I actually went 5 days a week). Replace 'half' with '25%' if we're accounting for exchange rates...