I am quoted in a story published today on the BBC News website investigating which is the most expensive rail journey in the UK – see http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16390608. I have always argued that St Albans must be up there at the top based on comparisons with other commuter stations at a similar distance from their London terminal – and indeed other cities with rail commuter links in the UK. (For example Burntisland is a similar distance from Edinburgh as St Albans is from London, but the Fife commuters pay 40 percent less).
The figures quoted in today’s BBC story seem to bear out my claim with St Albans annual season tickets coming in at 31 pence per mile travelled.
Of course there are the oddities – the absurdly expensive Heathrow Express and the infamous tube journey from Covent Garden to Leicester Square which was always supposed to be more expensive per distance covered than Concorde. My concern is for standard commuter journeys which people have to use every day.
As I told the BBC, we are paying Rolls Royce prices but not getting the Rolls Royce. I welcome any thoughts on the appropriate car model which best describes the Thameslink experience!
PS I blogged before Christmas about my meeting with rail minister Norman Baker, where I put on the table a dossier compiled by two local commuters on their recent daily experiences of First Capital Connect. Norman promised to pass it to Tim O’Toole, chief executive of First Group, the parent company of FCC. This has resulted in a five page letter of explanation from Mr O’Toole which Norman Baker forwarded to me today. When I have digested its contents, I will report on them here.
Well done for raising such important point. I always knew that commuters living in St.Albans were paying far too much for a 20 minute journey into London, now that you have done the maths, its plain and clear to see that this is nothing short of ‘daylight robbery by an incompetent company. At least someones on the ball. Its time we demanded better. Keep digging!
Comments via e-mail:
Jasmine:
Trains fares make me so cross. I start my new placement on Monday in Watford and its a 16 min journey and its £6.10 return. Also what is the point of a railcard if you can’t use it before 10 am
Veronica:
We Support you Sandy….
Comment via Facebook:
Tim:
A good, well-balanced article. And well done Sandy (again) for highlighting an issue that is a major concern for people in their everyday lives.
@ Jasmine:
The point of a Railcard is to get people who wouldn’t otherwise travel on those off-peak empty trains – as in between the peaks on a few routes there aren’t many customers at all!
I would also say in the evening, but as a fellow FCC customer I know any train after 8pm out of London to Herts (on TL or GN routes) are all packed