I'm going to that London a couple of times in August and decided to buy train tickets in advance (3 weeks and 4 weeks ahead of time respectively).
The cheapest possible journeys worked out at £47 each for Bournemouth - London Waterloo, so £94 altogether.
So, I looked at National Express and the coach worked out at £11 each, so £22 altogether and a total saving of £72! Oh, the journeys were also at more convenient times and only take 10/20 minutes longer than the train (traffic depending).
Without turning into TJ, this whole public subsidy for private profits thing isn't working very well, is it? Unless you're an executive with South West Trains or similar, in which case I'm sure it's great.
Yes, but it's much harder to escape from loonies on a coach, that's why they're cheaper.
True enough. Our loonies are woeful compared to the world class 'characters' you encounter on the Greyhound though!
At least you're guaranteed a seat.
I'm visiting the London about twice a month at the moment. The only way I've found to do it without getting a sore bottom is to book six weeks in advance.
My OH commutes into London 2-3 times a week. The cost of a rail card for a year is close to £5k. The train is overcrowded, in-frequent, un-reliable, stops after about midnight and expensive. Instead she takes the bus. Granted, it takes a bit longer, but it stops in multiple places in London, you're guaranteed a seat, it runs through the night and the years season ticket cost £1k.
Busses are cheaper, but worse.
Take your pick.
Not sure about that, based solely on the Bournemouth - London route
Coach Train
£11 £47
2hr30 2hr10
Seat No guarantee of seat.
I don't think it's worth paying £36 more to arrive 20 minutes earlier.
Park and Ride?
Not cost effective at all.
I met a man on a Greyhound bus who told me he was living his afterlife on earth for the sins he had committed in previous lives. Ronnie Regans rolling institutions 😯
oops
😯 😳The only way I've found to do it without getting a sore bottom is to book six weeks in advance.
