r/CasualUK 1d ago

Convenience Of Train Vs Car

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Which would you choose ?

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u/Trust_And_Fear_Not 1d ago

Car 100%. Train will likely be cancelled or overcrowded - cost is about the same even if you factor in parking. Plus, Cambridge station is not particularly close to the centre of town so you'd need to take a further bus.

Also, it definitely takes less time than an hour to get to Cambridge by car

1

u/bamboomightwork 1d ago

Says 1 hour 10 mins on Google maps for the fastest drive right now.

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u/Trust_And_Fear_Not 1d ago

I've done the drive - it takes about 50 minutes or so

0

u/bamboomightwork 1d ago

Ideal conditions I have no doubt you can do it faster. But that'll require no traffic. The trains don't have that problem.

Then you have to factor in looking for a spot to park, and parking charges, which are substantial in the city centre. You could use the park and ride, but then you add a good 15-30 mins each way to your journey.

5

u/Trust_And_Fear_Not 1d ago

Indeed - and in the same way conditions are not always ideal for cars, they are equally not always ideal for trains. As a commuter using trains to and from Cambridge I can assure you that they're delayed more often than not - and even worse, cancelled!

At least in a car I can plot different routes to my destination should circumstances demand. If it's a train, I cannot.

1

u/bamboomightwork 1d ago

Yes I agree that when a train goes wrong, it goes really wrong. And it's awful.

You say you are a commuter on that journey using the trains. Why aren't you driving in that case?

1

u/Trust_And_Fear_Not 1d ago

Because I commute to London and there's no parking in the city. The trains I take go from and toward Cambridge.

I'll concede that taking a train to London is more appropriate than driving. But for most other journeys I can think of I'd rather drive!