Why do you use the train?

[anti-pacer]

What is your main reason for using the train?

Do you drive trains, or are you a guard? Do you, like me, mainly use them to commute to work? Do you mainly use them for leisure? Are you an enthusiast?

I know some of you, well, me too, will use them for more than one reason, but what do you MAINLY use them for?

 

[samuelmorris]

Work first, enthusiast second. Central London really does necessitate public transport.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

So I have somewhere to discard my litter...

 

[Starmill]

So I have somewhere to discard my litter...

So you have somewhere to go to the toilet! Duh

 

[anti-pacer]

So I have somewhere to discard my litter...

I'll let you have that one!

 

[pdeaves]

Why do I use the train? Two answers, depending on how you want to take the question:

1. It's civilised, low stress, affordable (yes, I mean it), I don't have to keep it anywhere at home (!), better for the environment, dependable.

2. Mostly leisure/visiting but also for work.

 

[HarleyDavidson]

Work on them, but avoid them for leisure unless its on a preserved line.

Used to travel a lot, but now the LHCS ICXC & ICWC services have been replaced by voyagers/pendos, I travel a lot less & when the HSTs go, I doubt I'll use the trains at all. A sad indictment of our network.

 

[Minilad]

Work first. Enthusiast second

 

[sadgit]

Because National Express is less comfortable, less punctual and more expensive for the journeys I make regularly (SOU-NRW).

 

[EM2]

For commuting because it's cheaper and quicker than the car or bus.
For the occasional leisure trip, depending on whether I fancy driving or not.
I am an enthusiast, in that I've always been interested in the railways, but will rarely go on a trip just to travel on a train (probably because I can always find something else to spend the money on). I've never taken numbers, and rarely take a photo unless it's something that I think will help with my modelling. Can't remember the last time I visited a preserved railway, but it's well over ten years ago.

EDIT - I tell a lie, I went to the SVR a couple of years back because I happened to be passing, but it was shut...

 

[sadgit]

Oh, different meaning of "why do you use the train"...

For leisure only - I am lucky enough to not have a commute as such, so my train journeys are for visiting other people. It's comfortable, it's convenient, it's somewhat cheap.

 

[Bevan Price]

1. Leisure
2. Enthusiast.
3. Can drive, but where possible, I rather avoid it (too stressful...)

Might travel more, but longer journeys with walk-on fares can be very expensive. (I don't book in advance because I want to retain flexibility about travelling times.) Used to do a few railtours each year, but timings often make tours seem like hard work rather than a pleasure.

 

[GWRjake]

For leisure/quicker and more comfortable travel to footy away days.

 

[tsr]

I do not simply "use" the train. What a terribly blunt and uncaring way of putting it.

There is much more of a two-way process. As a human being, I care for the train* and see that it receives one of its essential daily requirements (traction interlock). In return, the train uses nutrients (diesel or "juice", known to scientists as "volts") to move both of us from A to B. This means that I get home on time, and lots of little boxes are ticked in a 1960s prefab office, and I get money. The train goes to a small shed in an unglamorous suburb where it is tucked up with a copy of the Metro (probably last Thursday's, but they're not very good at reading anyway).

Exactly the same happens the next day. Usually quite early in the morning.

*Varying levels of care are exhibited according to the breakdown in symbiosis that day. No Sectional Appendices were harmed in the corrective action taken against the C1 local door.

 

[EbbwJunction1]

I currently use trains mainly for work, i.e. to travel between Newport and Cathays in Cardiff.

This is because they are quicker and generally more comfortable. I can also get an advance for an annual season ticket from my work, so as the cost is reclaimed at source monthly, as I don't have the money in the first place, I don't miss it.

However, this will probably change when I get my bus pass in approx. 18 months. My main way of travel will become the bus, as it's a good service and goes very near to the office ... and it'll be free!

My secondary use is leisure, as I travel quite a lot on holiday, using trains when I can - although I do use National Express or Stagecoach if it's easier. As the (Welsh) bus pass won't cover England, I'll still travel by train in the majority of cases.

I'd still call myself an enthusiast, but it's nowhere near what it used to be. My enthusiasm is mainly restricted to heritage railways, which I regularly travel on when on holiday if there's one near to where I am going. I don't see that changing in the future.

 

[edwin_m]

Mainly use the train for work purposes, because it's less stressful than driving and I can get work done on the train (assuming I get enough space and a bit of quiet!). Also in my job as a railway consultant it helps to keep an eye on what is going on out there.

I have always been interested in railways, which is why I got the job in the first place, and in the days when I was single and had a status pass I'd be out and about somewhere most weekends. We do a few family trips now, mainly to London, but XC has priced itself out of the market for our previous regular journey to my parents in Wiltshire.

 

[Techniquest]

I use the trains totally for leisure purposes (unless I'm going to work after a trip away, in which case I count that as commuting), and I use them a lot! I love being an enthusiast, wouldn't ever want it any other way again!

Of course, I use buses and coaches too, buses because I have no railway to use (closed in the 1950s) and I sure rack up a lot of mileage of those in an average month! I don't use coaches too often, but sometimes the cost of the train versus coach is massive and worth doing.

Fortunately that doesn't happen too often!

 

[Bigfoot]

In return, the train uses nutrients (diesel or "juice", known to scientists as "volts") to move both of us from A to B.

Volts are pretty much pointless unless there's some dried grapes to back it up!

 

[DaveNewcastle]

What is your main reason for using the train?

The main reason is that it is vastly preferrable to driving a car.

I used to drive between Newcastle and London and/or Brighton every week, or between Newcastle and Edinburgh nearly as often (and less often to Inverness, Bristol, Plymouth, Brussells or the south of France). And I did all that for decades.

Not only do I find driving such distances unpleasant now, but I've found real pleasure in the time available to me on-board which I can use for relaxation, work, eating, rest and socialising. I can do none of these properly while driving, and I reach my destination rested and in a good frame of mind to do whatever is next.

And (apparently in stark contrast to some on here), I enjoy the friendly and welcoming community of railway men and women who make my time travelling a pleasure.

 

[Llanigraham]

Leisure mostly, but also:
Easiest way to get to meetings of my Motor Club in London.
Easiest way to get to my bosses office.
So I can have a drink and not drive.

 

[HarleyDavidson]

Are we allowed adult humour here?

 

[al78]

I no longer have a car and use the train for a variety of reasons:

1. To visit distant family.
2. Travel to work related meetings/functions in London.
3. Travel to social or volunteering events where the train is faster and/or more convenient than cycling, or I am feeling too tired to cycle the full distance.
4. Other long distance travel in the UK not covered in any of the above.

 

[moogal]

If it counts, I use the London Underground every day to get to work, because trying to get from East London to West London any other way would be insane.

When it comes to the national rail network, I tend to use it to visit family as I don't own a car and in many cases with advance fares it's much cheaper to book a train ticket than rent a car and drive, not to mention quicker!

If I lived outside of London the answer would probably be much different though!

 

[hidden]

I'm a train guard so use it most days.

But I also use it for leisure sometimes, mainly if going into the city (Manchester) or travelling further afield (London) occasionally. Saves on parking, stress, fuel and of course as staff it's free, mostly, so try to make use of that benefit where I can!

 

[DEE-DE]

I use it for leisure, i.e. visiting family. As a student from abroad, I don't get to use the train too often. Unless I do any other trips it's 3 times a year for me, uni is within walking distance. Mostly taking the train is cheaper. The flight home is at least £100 return. London to Germany I always manage to get for 54 € by booking as early as possible. Then add the sleeper southbound from £43 and the return train for £21. Comes to roughly £150, maybe add another 5 for reservations. The cheapest flights come to about £150 as well, but it's often more expensive during the holidays.

Also no luggage limits which can be useful when taking stuff for several weeks and laptop. And it means avoiding the local bus to the airport. Unfortunately the sleeper got more expensive so I have to leave earlier so I can get an EastCoast train with Lndon Estar advances. This Christmas I still did both ways on the sleeper. Also can be worth upgrading to 1st on EastCoast for very little extra.

 

[sarahj]

I mainly use it, as if i don't, a load of 'customers' get miffed off that their train is going knowhere.

Outside of that, I don't use it that much*. Sometimes to go to London. I'd use it to go to see family in Newcastle more, problem is when I'm there, I need a car to go and visit them, some are out in the wilds, some Gateshead. Though sometimes when I'm up there in the car I might use the Metro or a Bus sometimes.
I also use it when I go on Holiday. My last train trip where I was not paid for being there was Innsbruck to Seefeldt. (on a talent)

* when your on the train every day, sometimes the last thing you want to do on your day off is get on one.

 

[BurtonM]

Mild enthusiasm.
Because when I was a kid, using the train was a rare treat. I always saw it as different and exciting. Then my uncle introduced me to how signals work, and TOPS, and as someone interested in 20th century history in general, my interest blossomed from there.
It's a (fairly) relaxing and fast way to travel, I don't like buses, can't afford to drive (I'm 19) and regularly take inter-city journeys, both out of necessity and for leisure. I like finding different ways to get between two points, trying out different types of train, and just generally exploring new places by train. There's always more to do, too - I've somehow managed to get this far into my life without ever using the ECML! Will have to rectify that one before the IEP trains are introduced. I've also only ever used an HST once - during Project Rio when I was 8. Still trying to work out a way to get on one - not easy being based in Manchester and the West Midlands.

 

[Clip]

Work and for leisure purposes when its too far and I cant be bothered to drive.

 

[Bantamzen]

For me it's work firstly as it is far quicker a commute by train than by bus. And secondly for lesuire primarily as an enthusiast but also because I don't drive.

 

[ComUtoR]

Necessary and practicality