Random Irritations

[Pin-seeker]

Only 2 thin slices of beef with my carvery

 

[Fade and Die]

London is just a slog from the NE. If it runs well the train is 3 1/2 hours from my town to Kings Cross. That's pretty impressive. Driving would be 5-6 hours, even to the outskirts.

It's one of those where the train is the right option, it's just been a bad experience.

Pretty much anywhere else from where I live, to York, Edinburgh, Liverpool etc, I'll drive.

Fair enough, I’ll always try to drive, even to the South of France! Although I am ditching the car when I visit Edinburgh next February, it’s just too far to drive for a weekend.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Fair enough, I’ll always try to drive, even to the South of France! Although I am ditching the car when I visit Edinburgh next February, it’s just too far to drive for a weekend.

As long as they aren't doing engineering works you should be okay . The London Edinburgh route is usually pretty good.

It's the same for us, we were just down for the weekend.

 

[Hobbit]

Fair enough, I’ll always try to drive, even to the South of France! Although I am ditching the car when I visit Edinburgh next February, it’s just too far to drive for a weekend.

I’d be tempted to fly if it’s London to Edinburgh for a weekend.

 

[Fade and Die]

I’d be tempted to fly if it’s London to Edinburgh for a weekend.

That’s just what we are doing… not a chance I’d be using a train

 

[Neilds]

That’s just what we are doing… not a chance I’d be using a train

True, who has ever heard of a plane journey being delayed

 

[Fade and Die]

True, who has ever heard of a plane journey being delayed

Thats true but even a three hour delay would still get me into Edinburgh before the train, also the plane was half the price of getting a train so I’ll take the chance.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Thats true but even a three hour delay would still get me into Edinburgh before the train, also the plane was half the price of getting a train so I’ll take the chance.

That's the madness of it. My son is in Bristol and we fly to see him. Significantly faster and genuinely half the price, sometimes the difference is even greater. That doesn't make sense to me.

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

Thats true but even a three hour delay would still get me into Edinburgh before the train, also the plane was half the price of getting a train so I’ll take the chance.

Was it last year there was story about some lad that was off to London but the train was so dear he got a flight via Ibiza, had a night out and then onto London all for less than the price of his train ticket

 

[Bunkermagnet]

When I put my reg into the TFL website it correctly identified my car then showed I might be due to pay CC and for the tunnel. ULEZ was mentioned but I read from it that my car was compliant…it’s a brand new Volvo.

I could certainly see the CC signs as I drove in but found the roads hugely confusing as I approached the tunnels and after we came out the other side. We’d never driven up that way to that part of London before. We came in by the A2 then A102/A12 up past Canary Wharf, then (Stratford?) High Street, Romford Rd up to south side of Wanstead Flats.

Blimey.

The CC signs on the A2 are warning that you might hit the CC zone if you go West too much.
From what you have said, you didnt hit the CC zone at all. Tower Bridge is the East side main pointer boundary.
You went throught the ULEZ zone, but a new car would be compliant.

 

[Fade and Die]

That's the madness of it. My son is in Bristol and we fly to see him. Significantly faster and genuinely half the price, sometimes the difference is even greater. That doesn't make sense to me.

Even factoring in paying to park for 4 days at Stansted it was much cheaper than getting the train.

 

[Neilds]

Was it last year there was story about some lad that was off to London but the train was so dear he got a flight via Ibiza, had a night out and then onto London all for less than the price of his train ticket

I always take these sort of stories with a large pinch of salt as they never mention how the people get to and from the airport at each end and the associated costs.

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

I always take these sort of stories with a large pinch of salt as they never mention how the people get to and from the airport at each end and the associated costs.

Oh I have no idea how genuine it was I just remember it being all over the news. But I think it was Manchester to Gatwick so be very easy to get a train link to both but who knows still highlights how it’s cheaper to fly than get a train and that’s embarrassing for our rail services.

 

[chellie]

Only cost us £120 ish for two of us to London return in the summer. Thought it a bargain.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

The CC signs on the A2 are warning that you might hit the CC zone if you go West too much.
From what you have said, you didnt hit the CC zone at all. Tower Bridge is the East side main pointer boundary.
You went throught the ULEZ zone, but a new car would be compliant.

Many thanks…that eases my concerns…though why why I enter my vehicle reg up pops CC and Tunnel toll suggesting I need to pay them. It would have been dead easy for me to not know and Judy pay the charge.

This sort of thing happened to me up Camden couple of years back. I didn’t know so paid, then later found out I was outside the CC zone. There was no way for me to get a refund, just hit a brick wall trying to get anywhere and gave up.

Certainly we went through one of the tunnels (Blackwell I think) so have paid them £4 toll for that.

Thankyou again

 

[irip]

My daughter has arranged her baby’s gender reveal dinner for 16.00 tomorrow.
(Don’t even get me started on gender reveal rubbish).
Had someone just message me to say they won’t be able to work tomorrow so I either have to find someone to cover or muggins here has to do it.

Little update.
I made it with plenty of time and we all had a lovely afternoon.
I even got a seat I could see the telly from.
First granddaughter on her way.
Must of been a very dusty place though I definitely got something in my eye twice
Once when it was revealed it’s a girl and once when I got the bill
Mrs already bought her a pair of crocs on the way home

 

[Neilds]

Oh I have no idea how genuine it was I just remember it being all over the news. But I think it was Manchester to Gatwick so be very easy to get a train link to both but who knows still highlights how it’s cheaper to fly than get a train and that’s embarrassing for our rail services.

There is a railcard for most groups, love my veterans card

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

There is a railcard for most groups, love my veterans card

I absolutely batter my rail card and even have one for the wife and kids as they’re entitled to dependants cards

 

[rulefan]

Even factoring in paying to park for 4 days at Stansted it was much cheaper than getting the train.

My granddaughter travels between Edinburgh and York and my grandson between London and York a few times each month. From what I am told they rarely if ever experience any problems.

 

[cliveb]

That's the madness of it. My son is in Bristol and we fly to see him. Significantly faster and genuinely half the price, sometimes the difference is even greater. That doesn't make sense to me.

The downside of that is you have to use Bristol airport.

I was there for the first time last month, and my reaction was: I didn't think there could possibly be an airport worse than Luton, but I was wrong.