I find it very interesting to read into people's backgrounds to see where they may be coming from - look at the names behind the stories to understand the choices made - in this case between looking for / taking up better value alternatives and shouting about the high price quoted.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_FinlaysonQuite. But what especially bothers me about stories like this one. or the recently "splashed in the tabloids" Luton to Canbridge rail fare, or the "£1 per mile to go from Bristol to Paddington," and all their ilk, is that it makes the average man in the street believe that all rail fares are like this.
I had a personal example of this myself, when a school friend who has lived in Germany for 40 years wanted to go to Swindon Railway museum from Bristol. He was talking about driving rather than taking the train,including diverting to pick me up at Chippenham because, after reding nonsenses like this, he honestly thought he'd nearly have to take out a second mortgage for an off peak day return
BRI» -
SWI» He was very pleasantly surprised when he found out the actual cost!