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Commuting experiences - public transport reliant
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By (user no longer on site) OP 36 weeks ago
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Can people please give me their experiences of long commutes on trains to work. How long was you able to keep it up until you started to crack?
Also those who may ride a bicycle to the station or work place, if on a shorter ride did you get away with wearing a suit? I know of course heavy rain etc or baking weather not ideal but if you have pannier bags etc that may help on sweat front.
I basically am bored to tears of Cambridge and want to move home to London but it could take long time. For now, I am thinking of working and commuting.
I am 25 minute walk from station which does not help but would ride my bicycle there which would only take 6 minutes. The train would be on average 1 hr 10 minutes to Liverpool Street, they seem to have reduced the 48 minute trains!
I would not want to come in at Kings Cross as alternative, as more expensive plus extra travelling to get into City. |
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When I was younger I commuted by public transport with a 15 minute walk one end of a forty minute train journey and thirty minutes walk or ten min bus ride the other. I was a lot younger then but the early starts and late arrival home began to pall after a while. It's not great for a social life either |
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By (user no longer on site) OP 36 weeks ago
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Yes I think it is difficult for both social life and family life if someone has a family.
My heavier party days are over and I do not have dependents, viewing it as a temporary thing until I can relocate. But it could take time.
That is the thing I am middle aged now or creeping into it, depending on people's interpretation, so that might make it more difficult for me haha. Different when you are a spring chicken. |
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I can't unfortunately talk about my experiences on public transport as I haven't used it since I was at school and haven't been on a train since the 1980s but that in itself is a major issue in many areas.
Even if I was inclined to use buses and trains it's not practical.
My commute is currently an hour each way by car.
If I was to go by bus that same journey would take almost 4 hours and involve 3 changeovers.
There are no train services in the area where I work and my nearest station is a 25 minute drive from home.
A family member works in Dublin 2 days a week and he has to drive almost an hour and a half each way.
If he was to use the train he would have to drive half an hour in the opposite direction to get on a train that would drop him a 40 min bus ride from where he works.
I'm guessing there are many parts of the country where this is also the norm and there are no cycling options either. |
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By *sWyldWoman 36 weeks ago
Edinburgh |
My son has just moved down south for a new job. His car is currently off the road and he has a 2.5 hour each way commute every day. I worry the novelty will soon wear off and I'm glad it will only be for a few weeks hopefully.
He's using the time on the train to study.
If you want to do something enough then a commute won't be a deal breaker |
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You need to take industrial action into account too and the weather. A bike ride is lovely on a fresh spring morning but arriving at work windswept, interesting and soaked through is quite something else.
Public transport is horrible too. Trains are noisy , dirty, smelly and unreliable. Since having problems with my eyesight I haven't driven for a while and I can't wait to get back to it.
I'm not trying to put you off and I'd place you firmly in the 'younger' bracket but I'd never agree to commute again |
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I currently get 4 buses a day, on the way to work it's not so bad. If I miss a connection heading home there's another hour wait. If there's no delays my commute adds nearly 3hrs to my working day as standard. Fortunately I'll be moving on soon. It definitely worn me down, and I'm on a home-work-home-bed, rinse and repeat cycle. I can't be bothered to cook when I get in, and don't even switch the TV on. |
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OP, I work about an hour away from my home town where all my friends and family are. Because of that, I moved closer to work (about a 10-15 minute drive) but I quickly realised I had distanced myself from the good things in my life - the people I like and the opportunity to do fun things with them.
So I moved. I now live ‘back home’ but the commute to work is one hour. However, I am much, much happier. Everything around me is familiar, comforting and readily available. Yes, the commute can be a bind, especially if there’s roadworks or a crash, but it’s worth it for the benefits.
You’re right to identify there may be a shelf life to the appeal of your commute but you can address that if it comes up. I think every day happiness is important and one should do whatever one can to promote that.
Whatever you decide, good luck! |
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Mr KC commutes via bus mainly. He walks about 0.7 miles in all weathers to a bus stop, then bus to main bus station (10-15min) then gets an express bus from here into Manchester, which is mainly on dedicated bus lanes. That takes 40-60mins depending on traffic at the last bit, the city centre. It stops outside work, but still a short walk to cross the road etc. He leaves at about 06:45 to start work at 08:30 ish. He's been doing a similar commute, although previously by train, since 2018 and before that, it was a similarly long journey with transport changes and walks in all weathers. He wears waterproof over trousers and walking boots until he gets to work/home etc.
I can't easily use public transport but I do the same commute by car, via school drop off. It takes me about 1.5hrs total, including the school bit. Obviously we do the reverse in the evening. I've been doing the same commute since 2013.
But I don't know if we're considered old or not  |
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By (user no longer on site) OP 36 weeks ago
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Oh no absolutely and all those things I do kind of fear, especially the bike ride if raining (I would have to resort to poncho I guess haha). If I can, I would hope to commute maybe 3 days a week and see if I could do 2 days at home. I do not really mind trains as such, it is more the length of journey so an hour and 10 minutes will feel a long ride. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP 36 weeks ago
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Thank you that is exactly it, I need what is familiar until I am able to relocate but it could be a long time. I think the length and expense of the commute I am planning could wear me down, but ultimately, I am going to be closer to what I know at least for part or most of the week  |
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By (user no longer on site) 36 weeks ago
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I spent 11 years commuting from Manchester to Bury on the bus, only about 8 miles but the bus ride took anything from 45 minutes to an hour and 20 depending on which bus and the traffic. Walk to the bus stop was either 5 minutes or 15 depending on which bus I used.
It was one of the reasons, not the main one, why I quit the job |
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By (user no longer on site) OP 36 weeks ago
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"You need to take industrial action into account too and the weather. A bike ride is lovely on a fresh spring morning but arriving at work windswept, interesting and soaked through is quite something else.
Public transport is horrible too. Trains are noisy , dirty, smelly and unreliable. Since having problems with my eyesight I haven't driven for a while and I can't wait to get back to it.
I'm not trying to put you off and I'd place you firmly in the 'younger' bracket but I'd never agree to commute again"
Oh no absolutely and all those things I do kind of fear, especially the bike ride if raining (I would have to resort to poncho I guess haha). If I can, I would hope to commute maybe 3 days a week and see if I could do 2 days at home. I do not really mind trains as such, it is more the length of journey so an hour and 10 minutes will feel a long ride. |
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"Can people please give me their experiences of long commutes on trains to work. How long was you able to keep it up until you started to crack?
Also those who may ride a bicycle to the station or work place, if on a shorter ride did you get away with wearing a suit? I know of course heavy rain etc or baking weather not ideal but if you have pannier bags etc that may help on sweat front.
I basically am bored to tears of Cambridge and want to move home to London but it could take long time. For now, I am thinking of working and commuting.
I am 25 minute walk from station which does not help but would ride my bicycle there which would only take 6 minutes. The train would be on average 1 hr 10 minutes to Liverpool Street, they seem to have reduced the 48 minute trains!
I would not want to come in at Kings Cross as alternative, as more expensive plus extra travelling to get into City."
I used to Cambridge science park from
Nottingham , daily.
I checked our driving to Grantham, fast train to KingsX then back out to Cambridge and train to to Cambridge north…..and back each day :- 5-6 hours a day £15,000 a year.similar times/costs from Notts with taxis or parking.
So instead I shifted my hours and drove. Leaving at 5am, sometimes earlier was only 90mins drive door to door A52/A1/A14 getting back maybe 2.5 hours
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By (user no longer on site) OP 36 weeks ago
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"OP, I work about an hour away from my home town where all my friends and family are. Because of that, I moved closer to work (about a 10-15 minute drive) but I quickly realised I had distanced myself from the good things in my life - the people I like and the opportunity to do fun things with them.
So I moved. I now live ‘back home’ but the commute to work is one hour. However, I am much, much happier. Everything around me is familiar, comforting and readily available. Yes, the commute can be a bind, especially if there’s roadworks or a crash, but it’s worth it for the benefits.
You’re right to identify there may be a shelf life to the appeal of your commute but you can address that if it comes up. I think every day happiness is important and one should do whatever one can to promote that.
Whatever you decide, good luck!"
Thank you that is exactly it, I need what is familiar until I am able to relocate but it could be a long time. I think the length and expense of the commute I am planning could wear me down, but ultimately, I am going to be closer to what I know at least for part or most of the week |
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By (user no longer on site) OP 36 weeks ago
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Sorry folks for quote fails earlier, I was jumping between laptop and phone, not used to posting from a computer 
Thank you everyone for your replies and experiences so far |
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By (user no longer on site) OP 36 weeks ago
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"I spent 11 years commuting from Manchester to Bury on the bus, only about 8 miles but the bus ride took anything from 45 minutes to an hour and 20 depending on which bus and the traffic. Walk to the bus stop was either 5 minutes or 15 depending on which bus I used.
It was one of the reasons, not the main one, why I quit the job"
11 years that is a long time! You did well though. I hope to not do mine not more than a year or so |
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M used to live in london and worked near Kings cross for several years. 10byears commutting in general.
The 8 mile as the crow flies commute (walk-bus-tube-walk) took an hour best case scenario but usually a litlle longer. Any disruption tube, bus or rail strules ans it could be 3 hours and cost 1400 a month 10 years ago when he stopped. Now it would be more expensive.
London is also reeeal expensive to live. Tho Cambridge is not cheap either.
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By (user no longer on site) 36 weeks ago
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I spent 5 years commuting at least 4 hours a day, sometimes it was more given train problems. After a while I just got used to it. Wouldn’t do it again though. |
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I have been commuting into London for 46 years all on train, it’s just part of the day now. Generally doze off, especially in the evening, and it does helps to unwind. The last 20 years have also involved quite a bit of walking. Currently the walk to the station and then the walk in London is worth about 5 miles round trip, but that is my choice, the exercise is pretty good. I am lucky that, if raining, the bus to the station stops at the bottom of the road so it’s convenient to say the least. Summer can be ‘tough’ but dress down helps, in the morning it’s cooler so not to bad, in the evening clothes are jettisoned on the stairs on the way to the shower! |
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I stopped using trains years ago - soon after I moved out of London to the countryside. The service was abysmal - expensive, unreliable and took far longer than just jumping in the car and driving in. I think it has got worse since.
Usable public transport doesn’t really exist outside the major cities and I certainly wouldn’t consider a regular long distance commute nowadays on it. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP 36 weeks ago
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Wow some of you been commuting a long time, probably have a higher tolerance threshold than me. But I hope for me it is not long term as in couple of years, hopefully no more than a year |
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"I stopped using trains years ago - soon after I moved out of London to the countryside. The service was abysmal - expensive, unreliable and took far longer than just jumping in the car and driving in. I think it has got worse since.
Usable public transport doesn’t really exist outside the major cities and I certainly wouldn’t consider a regular long distance commute nowadays on it."
I don’t know about that. I’m 25 mins from you and I only use public transport at the moment. I’m only buying a new car because one of my hobbies demands it. |
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By *MCMan 36 weeks ago
London/EA |
I’ve been commuting for a while but only 1 or 2 days a week.. that’s enough for me as it’s just under 2 hours each way.
I wouldn’t have joined the company if they didn’t agree to this.
Getting bored of it now though to be fair, especially with how useless trains are. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP 36 weeks ago
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"When I was getting the train to London every day I did half an OU degree on my commute over the course of about a year and a half."
Yes that is a great use of time, I would just struggle to concentrate even with ear pugs, good on you though. I did start an OU degree in Environmental Science few years ago but could not cope on top of my very demanding corporate job at time with long working hours etc. I think those who complete them despite tough jobs and/ or family really are worthy of praise |
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