A screenshot of train ticket prices from London to Manchester has left some people furious and looking for alternative transport methods, with some rather wild suggestions
A livid traveller has come up with a wild suggestion for those looking to journey by rail from London to Manchester.
Eye-watering ticket prices, as seen in a Trainline screenshot shared on X last weekend, show fares soaring to a staggering £369.40, sparking outrage and prompting calls for “out of control” train fares to be addressed.
X user @Cole00004 took to the social media app with a novel proposal: “At this point it’s cheaper to buy a banger, drive it and abandon it, each trip.” The alternative plans to train services didn’t stop there, with some social media users pointing out that flying could be a more wallet-friendly option.
One commented: “It’s absolutely insane how expensive trains there are unless you book three months in advance. It’s literally like £25 to fly from London to Manchester so everybody does. It’s absurd.” Another revealed: “Four of us looked at a return trip for a meeting and it was cheaper to hire a limo door to door.”
And it wasn’t just clapped-out cars and luxury limos offering a better deal; some claimed an Uber ride could undercut peak train tickets. “It’s also cheaper to get an Uber from South West London to Manchester Piccadilly than to get the train at peak times,” a user claimed.
It’s worth noting that at the time of writing (October 17) train tickets from London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly are available at between £32 to £76 at various times for the rest of this week.
A spokesperson for Avanti West Coast said: “Most customers take advantage of our lower cost Advance fares, with a single journey between Manchester and London starting at £32 that can be purchased for peak time trains too. We want to help people find the best value tickets for their needs, which is why we introduced our award-winning Superfare ticket that offers those who can be flexible with their plans a one-way journey between Manchester and the capital for just £20.”
