horizon wrote:[XAP]Bob wrote:50 miles each way is a long way - the train is clearly the 'least bad' option, and if combined with a bike can actually be very pleasant, but in the UK they are frighteningly expensive compared with the direct costs of private motor transport.
The train fare for the OP's journey is £54.00 peak return. That's about 50p per mile. The HMRC tax allowed rate for motor vehicle mileage is 45p per mile so not far off. If the OP travelled off-peak arriving at work at 10.00 am, his train fare would be £33.30. He could work on the train and take calls etc and cycle part of it, as already suggested. If his work is reasonably flexible and well paid then I don't see the problem. If it isn't, then a 50 mile commute is mad whatever the mode of travel. Working from home one day a week would also start to transform matters. It's been well reported how the intransigence of employers makes coping with modern work much harder - the technology is all there.
Well you can do (much) better than that.
First of all a weekly season works out at £24.12/day. And monthly and annual seasons closer to £20/day.
Less than £5,000 a year, although I'd be more concerned about the ~four-hour commute. Being on the 'wrong' line is IMO a big issue, the unfortunate thing is the right line (the Portsmouth - Guildford) line is quite far away. Southampton - Petersfield is close to 30 miles.