Why I Choose to Travel by Car: The Frustrations of Train Travel

Introduction

When it comes to traveling, I have found that relying on my car offers more convenience and flexibility compared to train travel. The current ticketing system for trains often leaves me feeling foolish and frustrated. In this article, I will share my experiences and explain why I prefer to travel by car.

Planning the Journey

It’s early morning, and I find myself in my kitchen, preparing for a day of travel. As I check Google Maps and Waze on my phone, I realize the importance of timing and efficiency. Today, I need to be at a lay-by in Teesdale between 9:30 am and 10 am, with a videographer to pick up from Leeds along the way.

Calculating the travel time, my phone informs me that Leeds is 1 hour and 30 minutes away from our destination. Therefore, to arrive at the videographer’s location by 8 am, I must leave promptly. However, if I were to leave later, around 5:10 am, I would encounter heavy traffic due to the influx of commuters heading to Leeds for work. So, I make the decision to leave earlier than planned.

Initially, I anticipate arriving too early at 7:20 am. However, knowing that I will need breaks for tea and food along the way, as well as refueling near Leeds, my estimated arrival time gradually adjusts.

The Benefits of Car Travel

After a relaxed fuel stop, I arrive at the videographer’s location at 7:55 am, right on schedule. The second leg of the journey is smooth sailing since we are the only ones heading to the lay-by in Teesdale. The lack of traffic congestion allows us to reach our destination by 9:35 am.

Traveling by car offers predictability and control over the journey. I have learned from experience that different departure times yield different results, but one constant remains: the cost. Unlike train travel, where ticket prices vary greatly depending on factors such as timing and class, car travel provides a consistent and transparent cost.

The Frustrations of Train Travel

A few weeks ago, I decided to take a train to Birmingham. As I planned my journey, I quickly realized the complexities of the train ticketing system. Initially, I naively considered buying a ticket at the station. However, this would have resulted in overpaying by £29.10, benefiting the German taxpayer who owns Chiltern Railways.

Upon further research, I discovered that purchasing the ticket online would save me 10%, reducing the price to £26.10. However, this option also proved to be a mistake when I found out that my travel companion had a Network Railcard, allowing them to purchase a ticket for me at a discounted price of £24. The catch was that the Railcard was only valid up to a certain point, requiring us to purchase an additional full-fare ticket to Birmingham.

The convoluted nature of train ticketing left me feeling confused and frustrated. If it weren’t for someone else’s knowledge, I would have paid 20% more than necessary. This experience made me question whether such complexity should be expected when using trains as a mode of transportation.

The Need for Improvement

When I choose to drive to a destination like Edinburgh, I only need to consider the travel time. The cost remains consistent regardless of when I make the decision to go. However, train travel presents a wide range of prices, with tickets ranging from £179 to £380 for standard class, depending on the timing.

As a car traveler, I appreciate the fact that my naivety and spontaneity are not taken advantage of. However, the current train ticketing system seems to exploit these qualities. The promised improvements of Great British Railways, a new public body aimed at simplifying ticketing and ending the fragmentation of the railways, have been delayed. This leaves me feeling frustrated and reinforces my preference for traveling by car.

Conclusion

While I don’t mind planning my journeys and understand the concept of loyalty cards, I strongly dislike the feeling of being taken for a fool unless I navigate the train ticketing system meticulously. Until train travel improves and becomes more user-friendly, I will continue to rely on my car for its convenience and simplicity. As the kettle boils, I grab my car keys and embark on another journey, leaving behind the frustrations of train travel.