To think people don't use public transport as its so unreliable

I use the tube quite often but not after 8pm. Other than that it’s just too expensive.

Trains are a joke indeed. Every time I go up north to see my DD and family something goes majorly wrong: train doesn't arrive, insufficient carriages so crammed in like cattle (and can't get to the loo), filthy trains, late arrivals etc.

I bought a return ticket to go up there today but had to drop out as I have covid - just as well, as I got a message to say it was not going to stop at my destination station any more! - great.

I took put insurance when I bought the ticket and am waiting to see if they honour my claim.

My teenage son uses our rural bus service a lot. All I can say is that it's good I have a flexible wfh job so can plug the gaps when the arsing thing doesn't turn up.
Then they'll withdraw the service due to "low uptake".
Trying to communicate with the service provider is a joke. If you get a reply they'll bat it to the council who bat it back to the provider.

Bus routes are a huge problem too. I live near a major bus route. My nearest big supermarket is less than 2 miles away, and also on a major bus route. There is no direct bus from near my house to the supermarket - instead it's 2 buses (probably 6 miles total) and takes an hour (on a good day). It's literally quicker to walk (however, I can't walk 2 miles with a weekly shop, so I drive there in 5 minutes).

Not just unreliable... expensive too!
I looked at getting a monthly train ticket for work. 10 minutes....2 stops.... £95 a month! My car tax, insurance and petrol combined are less than that a month, ridiculous.

Jolly well done. You've done your bit for global warming!

I live in the NW trains are an utter joke.

Avanti is the most reliable which is the one Andy Burham says is terrible 😂

Politicians need to remember this when they try to price motorists off the road; and to do something about it. The decisions are always made by people who don't use public transport much. Trains are unreliable, and expensive, and you have to plan your trip so long in advance to make it worth it at all. They told us that privatising railways would make them better, and more competitive. How did that go? Sometimes you long for the days of British Rail.

And they need to lead from the front, and use public transport themselves, instead of being driven around in ministerial cars (and helicopters, if you are Sunak).

Yep I agree. Tried to take a bus (2 changes) from our village to town when my car was in the garage and the first bus didn't turn up - had to ring for a lift to the next village so I could get my connecting bus in time. Kind of defies the point of getting the bus! I now know I wouldn't be able to rely on the bus service if I needed it to get to work on time.

Ticket prices where I live are about to go up yet again. So if you just want to go to our local town for shopping it's now going to cost almost five pounds in bus fairs. It's cheaper to get your shopping delivered really. Our town is very very quiet now midweek. We had lots of cafes and a little market. They are gone now.

And the train service is ridiculous!. So many delays and cancellations that it's just not worth it.

DH would like to take the bus to town but you can wait for 10 minutes or 40 minutes for it to turn up. Then it goes some winding route into town that takes ages.
Or you can drive in 10 minutes.

I think that cost is also a big factor. I have a Tesco Extra that is under 3 miles from me. It takes 2 buses each way (by different bus companies) so costs £4 each way, then add in the cost of bringing anyone else with me. Well it soon becomes unaffordable.

Sadly, yes, I'd love to use public transport more, but more often than not, it's late. I waited 45 minutes for a delayed bus last week. I could have gotten there and parked in that time.

That. Plus I like to be in control, I like flexibility to go as and when I want, I like the convenience, I can afford it, driving doesn’t stress me out, kids can have all their stuff with them, oh and I don’t want to be around other people.