Train Fares

[sifi]

I went up to cenral London yesterday from my home in Sussex for a job interview. As it's been a long while since I've done the trip on a daily basis, I thought I'd ask how much a weekly travelcard was - and was a bit shocked to hear that it was over £80.

As the crow flies, the distance is around 30 miles.

I thought that was shocking.

[ampersand]

if i was to travel from livingston to glasgow return for 7 days, it would cost me £63. which is 35 miles on the road.

so yeah, yours is pretty bad, considering a weekly should really be reduced slightly.

Edited August 19, 2010 by ampersand

[sifi]

if i was to travel from livingston to glasgow return for 7 days, it would cost me £63. which is 35 miles on the road.

so yeah, yours is pretty bad, considering a weekly should really be reduced slightly.

[ampersand]

Forty Eight pounds, actually - according to National Rail Enquiries Season Tickets for a weekly.

So mine is nearly double that - facking Landan.

[jump]

I went up to cenral London yesterday from my home in Sussex for a job interview. As it's been a long while since I've done the trip on a daily basis, I thought I'd ask how much a weekly travelcard was - and was a bit shocked to hear that it was over £80.

As the crow flies, the distance is around 30 miles.

I thought that was shocking.

[oafc0000]

I went up to cenral London yesterday from my home in Sussex for a job interview. As it's been a long while since I've done the trip on a daily basis, I thought I'd ask how much a weekly travelcard was - and was a bit shocked to hear that it was over £80.

As the crow flies, the distance is around 30 miles.

I thought that was shocking.

[sifi]

Is that by zones or station to station?

I pay £92 for monthly travelcard into London which is less than 10 miles but if pay for zones I think the costs goes up by £40-50.

[sifi]

WOW that is a lot for a week!

[oafc0000]

Zones - the job location wasn't at a Rail station - so, I'd have to get a tube.

If I get a monthly, it'll be £310, which works out about £20 less. Annually it drops to £3,200.

[oafc0000]

It is considering I'd be using the Thameslink service, which is a horrible service to use. It's a contract job, so I'd be looking at running through a Umbrella company or some such, if I get it, but I'm not altogether fussed and rather go PAYE to be honest. If I do use an Umbrella company, is it possible to write some of that off against tax?

Edited August 19, 2010 by oafc0000

[t8yman]

I went to leeds yesterday from Brough (45 miles-ish) £14.80 return. Bargain. It was Jamie Olivers' restaurant that f**king stung me when I got there!

[jump]

Zones - the job location wasn't at a Rail station - so, I'd have to get a tube.

If I get a monthly, it'll be £310, which works out about £20 less. Annually it drops to £3,200.

[sifi]

Yes... You can write off your travel expenses for up to two years... At the point your contract goes further than two years (aka you know you will be there long than two) it no longer counts as temporary place of work and you have to stop claiming for travel...

Umbrella is pretty much PAYE besides a number of expenses you can write off...

[oafc0000]

Thanks - I might pick your brain on the subject if I'm successful. I know it's essentially tax avoidance mind. That's something I'll have to consider too. How much of a sell out would I be? The thick end of four grand a year is probably a good price ....

Bus isn't really an option, no. It would take far too long. I think I'll look at walking from the nearest mainline station to the location, however, as it looks like I'll be paying ten pounds a week for what essentially might be a five minute walk ....

Edited August 19, 2010 by oafc0000

[sifi]

Anyway, if you want advice on what you can legally do I am happy to help... If you are going to be a contractor for the for seeable future then you might want to consider setting up an LTD.

[the_hedge]

Great - thanks.

[t8yman]

I used an Umbrella company called Parasole last time I was contracting and had no problems with them. Paid me on time every week

[oafc0000]

was it parasol? or parasole?

my mate owns parasol.

[the_hedge]

was it parasol? or parasole?

my mate owns parasol.

[lifelessfool]

I generally find train fares OK but some times it can be ridculous but its only when travelling from certain stations, ones I rarely use mind. Was there not a government investigation in this which found we have the most expensive train fares in the EU but with advanced tickets we can be the cheapest service?

[oafc0000]

I generally find train fares OK but some times it can be ridculous but its only when travelling from certain stations, ones I rarely use mind. Was there not a government investigation in this which found we have the most expensive train fares in the EU but with advanced tickets we can be the cheapest service?

[Ringo_Spar]

Been looking at working back in London recently, and for first couple of months may do daily commute from Birmingham. Didn't think the weekly ticket was too bad at £107, definitely cheaper and less stress than driving.

Though I was looking at fares to Inverness for a gig in December. Two of us by plane £157, by train with an off peak return, £223/each!

[RABun]

My travel from deepest Hertfordshire in to london is £72 per week thats just into the mainline train station - i find its cheaper to use Oyster than get a travelcard if you are only making 2 journeys by tube or bus a day. Or alternatively you could use one of boris' bikes! that is free for the first 30 mins. And costs about £40 a year to register i think.

I am seriously considering giving up my job to do something else, like write a book, or get my food buisiness going, and the fact that travel prices are due to go up by 18% and i am not due to get a payrise because of the recession i think i might just do it!

[bunique]

I pay £90/month to travel between home and work in West Mids - 20 miles and takes less time than the car. Can't remeber what I used to pay for travel fr

Kent to London plus underground but it was in the multiple hundreds!

[dakyras]

Weekly season tickets are such a con. It's cheaper just to buy 5 travelcards.