Cars trains Boats and Planes - Motoring and Transport costs

Honest John Back Room » Motoring discussion
View Threaded
Sat 19 Sep 2015 07:58
Cars trains Boats and Planes - Motoring and Transport costs - oldroverboy.

Having moved from the (slightly) isolated lovely place to live that was Carmarthen, where the worst traffic jam was generally the 30 seconds to wait for the lights on the Towy bridge, and that Drivers of all classes were also so much more forgiving and polite than in the "sunnier southeast" od England.

Our transport options have changed too..

6 "International" airports within 80 miles..

A train staion where we can get to London for £9 ish booking in advance, (should we want to go)

A direct bus to Stanstead almost from our door a mile or a few minutes away.

A bus every 15 minutes complete with my now free bus pass...

Have also foud with the nearest airports (stanstead) that some uk destinations are cheaper to get to by air.

Belfast soon £54 return single Edinburgh £75...

Train fares for both are horrendous and involve central london..

Nice to have the car, but even nicer to have the choices.

An upcoming trip for both of us..

London-Berlin-Edinburgh-london £85 EACH.. OUCH!

Edited by oldroverboy. on 19/09/2015 at 07:59

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 19 Sep 2015 13:24
Cars trains Boats and Planes - Motoring and Transport costs - Avant

Interesting. We've effectively done the opposite - semi-retired in North Dorset after 40 years in Berkshire near Reading.

We don't miss Reading one little bit: it deservedly failed to gain city status a few years ago. We do of course miss family and friends - so there's a lot of barrelling up and down the A303.

But London is only 2 hours from Gillingham (3 miles from home) on the train, and we're 10 minutes from the A303. Flying is more of a pain, as the roads to So'ton and Bristol are both awful (1.5 hours to each) - indeed Heathrow takes only half an hour longer. Last time I went to Edinburgh I drove there: 7 hours' driving, so 8 hours with breaks - but a lot less hassle than getting to an airport and waiting around, with a fair chance of delays.

What we particularly wanted - and have got - is the ability to go out of the house and hear silence, instead of a constant low traffic hum.

Still doing 20,000 miles a year: with the Skoda doing over 40 mpg on a long run, diesels are another thing I don't miss. With a lot of short journeys as well as fairly regular long ones, a plug-in hybrid is an attractive option - but, at the moment at least, they cost too much in the first place to justify the saving in running costs.

So no regrets.

Edited by Avant on 19/09/2015 at 13:28

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 19 Sep 2015 13:42
Cars trains Boats and Planes - Motoring and Transport costs - oldroverboy.

Interesting. We've effectively done the opposite - semi-retired in North Dorset after 40 years in Berkshire'

What we particularly wanted - and have got - is the ability to go out of the house and hear silence, instead of a constant low traffic hum.

So no regrets.

For us it was for youngrovergirl's move careerwise. will be doing some training at Addenbrookes.. try that from carmarthen 1 day a week!

Family commitments are slightly easier, but I no longer wish to drive 420 miles in uk traffic to see the cousins.

Miss looking out of the bedroom window 40 miles up the Towy valley and seeing the Brecon Beacons. and the quiet too.

Where we are in Colchester about a mile north of the mainstaion we can hear freight trains and the background noise of the A12.

And yes we miss West wales..

Reply | Report as offensive | Link