The Hoffmeister wrote:WorthingStag wrote:As someone that works in the industry (train signaller) it’s difficult not to be subjective. I travel to all Stags away games by train and have only experienced one complication this season, I stood from St Pancras to Nottingham for the early kick off at Meadow Lane, my own fault, I never reserved a seat and it was Nottingham University’s Open Day….the fact that I’d just finished a twelve hour night shift was soon forgotten and I enjoyed the journey home.
Can I ask you Worthing if being in the industry one of your perks is cheap/cheaper travel on the train?
I ask because whenever I've thought it'll be easier by train , when on their ticket sites it's akin to legalised extortion!!!!!
Yeah, I know what you mean about the cost of train travel, sadly we’re easily the most expensive in Europe and there appears to be an increase every January. I get free travel with the local train operating companies in the South East and attract a healthy 75% discount elsewhere. It cost me £12 return to Stroud (Forest Green) and for the longer distances, Crewe, Grimsby, Salford, Accrington, Morecambe etc I usually get there and back for £30 which would normally cost well over £110…. Obviously that compensates for often arriving home after midnight. Home games, Notts County and Burton were about £18. Local games (for me) Crawley, Sutton, Gillingham, I travel free….
Non Industry travellers can obtain cheaper tickets, by booking in advance, travelling with specific train operators and travelling cheaper routes, these cheaper tickets are sold on a first come first served basis and gradually climb in cost, whilst you can obtain some real bargains, they offer no flexibility and are non refundable. These train operators aren’t concerned about the customers, it may well be a service, but it’s predominantly a business now, and satisfying shareholders comes before satisfying customers, trains are full simply because the country is 73 million people and climbing.