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Question: Do you plan more or less train travel than normal this summer?  (Voting closed: August 04, 2022, 07:14:38)
I plan to travel by train more than normal this summer - 2 (6.9%)
I plan to travel by train about the same as normal this summer - 8 (27.6%)
I plan to travel by train less than normal this summer - 15 (51.7%)
I never travel by train anyway - 0 (0%)
I don't know how to define normal - 1 (3.4%)
I don't yet know how it will turn out - 3 (10.3%)
Total Voters: 29

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Author Topic: Members - what do your summer travel plans look like?  (Read 6479 times)
grahame
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« on: July 21, 2022, 07:14:38 »

How do your travel plans (by train) look for this summer?
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grahame
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« Reply #1 on: July 21, 2022, 07:22:25 »

I will give you my "starter for 5" as a sample ...
 
I will be travelling LESS by train this summer because
* I cannot trust to planning because of service unreliability
* We are very busy indeed locally and it's hard to find time
* I am no longer travelling on business (to give IT courses)

I will be travelling MORE by train this summer because
* We have guests staying with us and will be showing them around

On balance - less train travel.  And note more bus travel than in past years and no air travel at all until (perhaps) very limited flights in the autumn
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TaplowGreen
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« Reply #2 on: July 21, 2022, 07:44:06 »

Less than previously for me.

Unreliability, especially at weekends
Likelihood of strikes disrupting plans
Much less travel on business
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ellendune
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« Reply #3 on: July 21, 2022, 08:01:39 »

I voted for less because my job has changed and I do less external meetings. Also the landscape has changed and those that I do are almost always on-line. 
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Red Squirrel
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« Reply #4 on: July 21, 2022, 09:10:09 »

I will probably use trains a bit less than my pre-2019 level this summer. The threat of strikes and other disruption does make it hard to plan ahead, which makes me reluctant to take advantage of cheaper advance fares. In turn this makes me less likely to take longer, more expensive journeys.
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Things take longer to happen than you think they will, and then they happen faster than you thought they could.
johnneyw
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« Reply #5 on: July 21, 2022, 11:29:14 »

I've "planned" quite a few days out by rail this year and have been using the rail option fairly frequently for my visits to Devon.  Whether strikes/weather/reliability etc allow for all the railway journeys is another matter but I want to give my "Advanced Middle Age" Railcard a good workout.
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LiskeardRich
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« Reply #6 on: July 21, 2022, 12:13:59 »

Next week I’m travelling to sheffield for the womens euros semi final. I’ve tried to do the cheapest travel options and killing a couple of birds with one stone on way home as something the daughter wants to visit in London.

Monday 25th
fly Newquay to Manchester with EasyJet, £18.99 for me and £9.99 for 1 child.
Train Manchester to Sheffield, advanced singles totalling about £6 for 1 adult 1 child. Booked through Avantis website  as my bank had a 5% cash back offer on Avanti.

Wednesday 27th
National express Sheffield to London £11 (I also booked a cheap rail advance of around £26, which I’ve applied for refund due to strike day) I bought the express ticket before strike dates were announced as a back up as it was known strikes were going to happen just not when!

Thursday 28th
London to Gatwick by unknown method, haven’t made this plan yet.
Gatwick to Newquay, eastern airways £40.99.

I priced the full itinerary by rail and there was legs with no cheap advances so total rail fare would have been  almost £600!

22nd august Trip  to explore Thames valley returning 23rd august using my first group staff offer  for first class day rovers. .
« Last Edit: July 21, 2022, 15:17:32 by LiskeardRich » Logged

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broadgage
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« Reply #7 on: July 21, 2022, 14:46:39 »

I plan less train travel this Summer than previously, for several reasons.

Strikes, on dates not yet announced prevent any long term plans.
Dislike of IETs (Intercity Express Train), often too short, uncomfortable.
General unreliability, seems worse than previously.

Probably more trips on the WSR as that is immune to strikes and IETs.
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A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit) is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
TonyK
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« Reply #8 on: July 21, 2022, 16:25:38 »

My planned flight to Biarritz next month has been cancelled by easyJet, although I am telling everyone I pulled the plug on principle. This was originally intended as somewhere in Spain in July 2020, and has been rehashed several times. Cancellation has solved a number of logistical issues. All money for accommodation and flights has been refunded, and I might go somewhere nice by rail in UK (United Kingdom), although I have just got back from Paris.
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Now, please!
FarWestJohn
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« Reply #9 on: July 21, 2022, 18:55:19 »

I have given up travelling by train until the railway becomes reliable and you can plan ahead. All seems a disaster area at the moment with strikes and cancellations.
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PhilWakely
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« Reply #10 on: July 21, 2022, 20:18:03 »

Next week I’m travelling to sheffield for the womens euros semi final. ....... killing a couple of birds with one stone........ 

I hope the Brammall Lane stewards confiscate that stone as we cannot have violence at the football!  Wink
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broadgage
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« Reply #11 on: July 21, 2022, 20:31:31 »

I have given up travelling by train until the railway becomes reliable and you can plan ahead. All seems a disaster area at the moment with strikes and cancellations.

I largely agree, I have not COMPLETELY  stopped travelling by train, but have greatly reduced rail use.
Cracked trains, short trains, strikes, and infrastructure failures.
I refer here not to the recent extreme heat, but to the endless disruptions in only moderately adverse weather during which roads and airlines operate as normal.
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A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit) is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
TonyK
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« Reply #12 on: July 21, 2022, 20:51:13 »


I refer here not to the recent extreme heat, but to the endless disruptions in only moderately adverse weather during which roads and airlines operate as normal.

It is getting to the point of "We apologise for the delay, which is due to the wrong type of snow/sun/wind/staff/heat/bank holiday"
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Now, please!
broadgage
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« Reply #13 on: July 21, 2022, 22:46:53 »

Next week I’m travelling to sheffield for the womens euros semi final. ....... killing a couple of birds with one stone........ 

I hope the Brammall Lane stewards confiscate that stone as we cannot have violence at the football!  Wink

Not to mention killing TWO innocent birdies, the veggies will be after you.
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A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit) is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
CyclingSid
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« Reply #14 on: July 22, 2022, 06:48:16 »

I expect to be doing my usual Saturday cycling trips, subject to availability of trains.

It will then be the autumn and the decision of do we renew the railcard.
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