Why do you use the train?

[DeeGee]

Leisure. I work at the same place as my wife, so we only need to run one car during the week. I have a hobby which takes me all over the country on occasional weekends and my wife doesn't like to come with me. As she stays at home with our son, I thought it more important that she had the car rather than me taking it with me.

What's more, it's invariably cheaper for me to travel by train, and it's more relaxing. I can start my weekend when I get on the train, instead of when I geot to my destination - I can nap a bit, eat when I want, have a couple of beers, and on my way home I can sleep for the whole journey.

It's not *quite* as convenient, but it's a lot more pleasant.

 

[GatwickDepress]

I doubt I would find it easier to get around if I were six feet wide and constantly farting carbon monoxide.

Coaches are infrequent, cars make me feel ill, and buses are expensive.

£3.60 Dayrider here on Stagecoach in Hastings, with a return costing way more than that. In comparison a return for my most frequent railway journey is £1.80 (with railcard discount).

 

[90019]

I rarely do, and on the few occasions, it's for pleasure.

Since I have cars, and being as driving is one of my main hobbies (as well as being my job), I'd rather use them instead - especially on a long journey.

 

[bussnapperwm]

because megabus doesn't serve the black Country...yet!

 

[emilyd]

I don't travel by train on a regular basis, but it's by far the quickest and most convenient way to get from one end of the country to the other, and to and from university. I'm nearly 19 but don't want to learn to drive, because I enjoy travelling by train so much and I suppose if you don't have a car it's worth the cost of train tickets.
Sometimes it's purely for pleasure though, day trips with Ranger tickets. I'd also love to get a Freedom of Scotland Travelpass sometime to explore up there by train, and maybe even Inter-railing in Europe.

 

[pne]

Solely for leisure for me (I usually get to work by bus, have cycled it before, and could even walk in a pinch).

For medium to long distances, I prefer it over a rental car because I don't have to concentrate on the road and I'm free to get up and stretch my legs (or use the facilities) at any time.

Also, I seem to be going night-blind as I'm getting older, which can make morning or evening drives a bit scary at times and almost certainly unsafe, depending on when the sun rises and sets.

 

[me123]

Although I've previously been a commuter in the Greater Glasgow area, my use is now solely leisure.

In fact, since I've moved to Aberdeen, my car hasn't left the city once! When I'm going elsewhere now, I take the train. The A90 South is a pretty miserable road - not very interesting and full of speed cameras (a friend drove me down it recently and I was shocked at the frequency of the cameras, certainly compared to the A9 pre-average speed cameras, which is claimed to be more dangerous).

The train back to the Central Belt is fast, frequent and comfortable. It offers free wi-fi (Scotrail only). It gives me valuable time to sit back and do some work, or read a book, or listen to music, or watch TV on demand, or even just sit back and watch the lovely scenery pass by; it gives me valuable time to sit back and relax which I don't really get in my day to day life. By comparison, if I was driving, I'd have to pay attention to the road for two-and-a-half hours, with particular attention to my speedometer to make sure I don't get caught by a camera.

In terms of cost, the train is about equivalent to the car for off-peak travel with a 16-25 railcard.

 

[fowler9]

Mainly for leisure to visit people, very rarely for work, even more rarely as an enthusiast. If I'm abroad I'll use them as an enthusiast because they are a bit different. On the odd occasion I'll get a cheap Virgin return to Crewe from Liverpool and normally return quite quickly after getting bored of the procession of Pendo's, Voyagers, 175's and 350's all in the corporate colours. It is probably just me getting old but there is a lot less variety now. Ha ha. The late 80's were heaven.

 

[OLJR]

i) I do not have a driving license and have no wish to qualify for one.

ii) In principle I have no objection to coach services, but trains are just so much faster.

iii) I am based in zone 1 so there is no problem getting to any major rail terminus and from there to anywhere in the country.

 

[dvboy]

I don't drive, and I get a lot out of my season ticket as most of my leisure time is spent in Birmingham also.

Driving is prohibitively expensive for me, and I doubt the time saving on my commute would be significant.

I'm not a fan of coaches for long distance travel. If possible, I'll fly if the price is comparable with rail.

 

[Oxfordblues]

As a retired railwayman I was very lucky to retain my travel facilities including a priceless Western Region Status Pass (Second Class) plus an excellent Railway Pension thanks to maximum BRASS contributions. For this reason I don't have a car and happily cycle past petrol stations. I have the fastest bike in the West: when I take it on an HST it can do up to 125mph!

I always travel by rail and sometimes go out for the day just to ride on the trains.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Because it's MUCH faster, and also cheaper (despite what the media/many posters on RailUK Forums say) than using buses. The fact that I have an autistic "special interest" in railway operations is next on the list.

 

[herschell]

I use it for leisure purposes and because I'm unable to drive so more convieniant than the bus

 

[DarloRich]

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?

I use them as I don’t have a car (I do drive works vehicles) and my house is no longer on a bus route. Not that I would use the bus as a first choice but it was nice to have the option. I am lucky to have my little station 5 minutes away with a decent service and good connections.

I travel almost everywhere by public transport so use them for work and leisure