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AIBU?

To think I could commute between Newcastle and York daily?

80 replies

Littleblueowl · 26/01/2015 10:40

Ive been offered a place on a midwifery course in York. I live in Newcastle and don't drive.

I have a 6 month old DS and DP has a good job here so moving would be unrealistic - do you think it's possible to commute via train every day? It's around an hour and a half away.

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CrispyFern · 26/01/2015 10:42

You could but your hospital placements might be more than an hour and a half away. It's a long commute.

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angelos02 · 26/01/2015 10:43

It is do-able but I wouldn't fancy it. Unless you live near Newcastle station and the course is near York station I would imagine the commute is longer than an hour and a half?

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Littleblueowl · 26/01/2015 10:46

I live around 15 minutes away from Newcastle station. I applied to local universities but anxiety got the better of me at interview. If I dont go for this I'll have to wait a whole year to re-apply.
Such a dilemma!

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CaulkheadUpNorth · 26/01/2015 10:47

It might not be the same, but when I did my pgce, the students commuting 2-3 hours each day were given placements nearer to them.

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chocolateyy · 26/01/2015 10:47

If you could be guaranteed a seat on the train, it might work to your advantage.

You would have 3 hours of un-interupted study every day.

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Stealthpolarbear · 26/01/2015 10:48

Would you be at the medical bit? That's another 25 mins on the bus
How far are you from train in newcastle
How will you make use of three hourson train
I do durham to York one day most weeks, wouldn't like to do it daily
Also it will be expensive

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WestEast · 26/01/2015 10:49

Would you be able to get commute in time for a 7am shift start, work a 14 hour shift and get home in time to get enough sleep to get back to York for another 7am start?

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Stealthpolarbear · 26/01/2015 10:50

Actually train only an hour so your hour and a half must include the hus in York?
Way back you'd need to leave abt 45 mins before your train to guarantee getting it
The 44 buses do a rail return for 1.50

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OydNeverDeclinesGin · 26/01/2015 10:51

You need to factor in where your placements might be and what time shifts start and finish. Also your community placements could be anywhere in the city. I think if you don't drive it will be v tricky. My hospital shifts start at 7.30 am and finish 9.30pm. You will also be expected to work weekends and some night shifts. It's also a very intense course with lots of academic work alongside placements which might be 22 hrs a week. I think with a new baby and not driving you might need to try and get on the course I Newcastle.
Good luck!

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Littleblueowl · 26/01/2015 10:51

Uninterrupted study time sounds like a huge advantage.
I'm not sure where I'll be yet - I assume it'll be wherever the clinical practice rooms are.

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GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 26/01/2015 10:51

How long is the course? Do you have family in York?

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EbonyIck · 26/01/2015 10:53

a whole year to reapply would be the thing for me. If you could make it work, childcare, cost of the travel (trains can be so expensive), talk to the hospital and make sure they know your situation, I'd have to try.

Is it like uni courses where you could potentially transfer your credits after the first year? If so I'd try for that, start at York and look at transferring.

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Littleblueowl · 26/01/2015 10:54

I'm planning on learning to drive but I think it might actually be easier to use public transport. DP works part time so thankfully he would be able to help out with sleepless nights if DS is unsettled.

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Littleblueowl · 26/01/2015 10:55

The course is three years, no family in York but friends there. The thought of waiting a whole year is quite frankly soul destroying for me, but I'm just worrying I would struggle with travel.

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JanineStHubbins · 26/01/2015 10:55

Newcastle to York is an hour on the train. I'd do it - and think of the 2 hrs daily as part of your workday. Study, admin, read etc.

Plenty of people in London commute for over an hour each day!

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prettywhiteguitar · 26/01/2015 10:57

Will you be based at York teaching hospital ? The uni or St johns ? It's walking distance to all but the uni which is good way from the station but there should be a bus service.

I think the train journey is only quick and relatively inexpensive but I'd worry about the further travel.

Good luck !

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Pensionerpeep · 26/01/2015 10:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

schokolade · 26/01/2015 10:58

Honestly, I had a commute this length pre DC, with a guaranteed train seat and work for the train. It was a nightmare and I was permanently tired. Then caught a lot of illnesses. I presume from tiredness combined with exposure in train. Can't imagine it with a baby.

So it'd be a no from me., I'm afraid

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CremeEggThief · 26/01/2015 10:59

I think you could, but won't it be very expensive? Can you get a weekly ticket or monthly pass? I live in Durham and that's over £20 for a day return to York.

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thegreylady · 26/01/2015 11:00

Do it. Use the train and study on the journey, use a quiet coach. It isn't a bad commut as long as your dh and ds will be ok. What arrangements will you make for ds? Will it be 5 days a week?

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thatsnotmyusername · 26/01/2015 11:00

I travel 2 hours to uni (midwifery) but only 10 mins to placement. Travelling to uni is fine, but I am not sure I would manage two hours to placement. As others have said, night shifts/13 hour shifts etc. My long days are 7.45-20.45, and nights 08.30-8. Saying that, if I had to I would do it. Its a hard course and it takes over every part of your life. (not that its a bad thing, midwifery is a large part of who I am...I like that its a large part of my life).

Have you used //www.studentmidwife.net? this question might be better answered there. xxx

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hiddenhome · 26/01/2015 11:01

If you're working shift hours during your placements, you may not be able to get off on time and would miss your train. It might look bad if you needed to leave at a crucial moment.

I think it would be really expensive, exhausting and stressful. Please think carefully about this.

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Stealthpolarbear · 26/01/2015 11:03

I live a 15 min drive from station in durham and realistically it's over 2hrs from me leaving the house to getting to work at the university campus

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JanineStHubbins · 26/01/2015 11:04

There's no longer a quiet coach on the Cross Country trains between Newcastle and York, but I think there still is one on East Coast (for now...)

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Stealthpolarbear · 26/01/2015 11:04

Even studying on train not always realistic when the people next to you are eating huge bags of crisps or balancing coffee precariously near your laptop. I do it when I can but not always

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