My recent journey home from Manchester gave me a little first-hand update to the state of play on public transport within the boundaries of the "Northern Powerhouse".
Well this time I decided to pay £38 as opposed to £12 and took the train from Manchester to Newcastle.NewcastleFalcon wrote: ↑11 Nov 2019, 09:57....and thats £6 each, and in an area I assume reasonably close to civilisation. The bus is a last resort here in rural Northumberland, both from a time taken and cost point of view, but I have to admit I am glad its there still on those occasions when there is no alternative. Longer distance Bus travel can be very reasonable. £10 from Newcastle to Manchester much cheaper than the train (and the car), but my last few experiences of doing that journey I tend to get off in Manchester thinking I should have got the train. Only takes a couple of foul mouthed chavs with a bit of drink inside them having a "domestic" behind you for the entire journey to put you off bus travel for ever.
First no cricitcism at all of staff on the train, but due to cancellations and late running of connecting trains the platforms of every station between in Manchester and through to Leeds/York were packed with passengers largely unable to get onto trains beacause all trains arriving had passengers standing all along the aisles, and packed into the doorways.
On this particular day, the MEGABus would have been relaxing luxury in comparison
Few days later..Season ticket prices increasing, strikes on the rail network and a general impression that the system is struggling to cope. Many opinions on HS2 no doubt but is getting to birmingham a potential 20 or 30 minutes sooner (on a good day) really a priority on rail networks in the UK?
Regards Neil