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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be embarrassed about UK public transport

22 replies

tyler80 · 27/10/2011 18:05

PIL coming over to visit and trying to sort out getting them from the airport to our house. I'm happy to pick them up as it's by far the least stressful option for me but they want to take the train/coach and save me the hassle.

Trying to talk them through the myriad of ticketing options, trains via/not via London, non refundable tickets, ludicrous journey times is just embarassing. AIBU to feel this way?

OP posts:
GypsyMoth · 27/10/2011 18:07

Yabu!!!!

belledechocchipcookie · 27/10/2011 18:07

Nope. They are expensive and often littered with used tickets.

ScaredTEECat · 27/10/2011 18:07

Yes, because it is the English public transport you are embarrassed about. Don't blame the rest of us! Northern Ireland's is very good.

SardineQueen · 27/10/2011 18:08

I think YANBU about mainline trains but some other bits of our transport system work pretty well

Thingumy · 27/10/2011 18:08

No the UK public transport system is mostly shit,I live out in the sticks and I cannot get to next largest town as the service has been cut.Most people stopped using it due to buses not turning up and leaving people stranded (all for £10 bus ticket).

The buse services around here are spectacularly bad.

fuckityfuckfuckfuck · 27/10/2011 18:08

Embarassing? Really? It's a traintime table not brain surgery

worraliberty · 27/10/2011 18:10

Embarrassed why? Confused

Itsjustafleshwound · 27/10/2011 18:10

I arrived in this country 15 years ago - I got on the bus and told the driver that I needed to get to a place starting with a 'C' - but if it is any help, there is a 'High Street' in the town - he got me to where I needed to be, so I am not going to kick them when they are down ...

Original poster
tyler80 · 27/10/2011 18:11

The timetable is the easy part, it's the ticketing options that are difficult. Maybe not brain surgery level, but certainly very hard for visiting foreigners without English as a first language.

I'll exclude NI ScaredTEECat, experience in Wales and Scotland has been on a par with England.

OP posts:
Meow75isknittinglikemad · 27/10/2011 18:12

Itsjustafleshwound

I MUST KNOW - where was it?!?!

SacreLao · 27/10/2011 18:13

Public transport is pretty crap in most parts of England but why be embarrased?

It's hardly going to reflect badly on you so forget it and let them do what they wish.

worraliberty · 27/10/2011 18:14

Blimey, look at India's transport system...now that's embarrassing Grin

GypsyMoth · 27/10/2011 18:15

Depends where they are coming from and how it compares?

Itsjustafleshwound · 27/10/2011 18:15

Grin - he just rattled off all the stops until I recognised the name!!

Original poster
tyler80 · 27/10/2011 18:16

They are coming from Denmark

OP posts:
TidyDancer · 27/10/2011 18:18

Yabu! Most public transport in England is great. A bit overpriced in some places, but generally very good. My 'international' friends have never had any problems with the ticketing options, so must disagree with you on that!

Funnily enough, the worse public transport experience I had was in Northern Ireland! Never again!

mynewpassion · 27/10/2011 18:20

Don't knock it. I've lived in a city with minimal public transport (busses only) and it was awful. Getting anywhere on it would take hours.

Yes, its hard for visitors but once they get the hang of it, they will enjoy it.

Thingumy · 27/10/2011 18:22

I think if you live in the city or a large town the transport system are geberally good.

From my experience,if you live out in the countryside,it's often appalling.

Original poster
tyler80 · 27/10/2011 18:24

I will not enjoy keeping my fingers crossed that they make the train and the connection. Worrying that they'll miss the train and have to fork out 100 quid each to upgrade their ticket to an anytime one. When I can drive the 120 miles there and back in the same time as it would take by train then it just seems like the easiest option.

I'm struggling to get them to believe that it really does take twice as long by train and is four times the cost of petrol to drive to the airport and back!

OP posts:
OddBoots · 27/10/2011 18:24

If it helps we were in Germany this summer and found the ticketing just as complicated, a friend out there says they have classes for older people to teach them how to understand it.

GuillotinedMaryLacey · 27/10/2011 18:27

Embarrassed, Jesus, you mustn't have travelled very much outside safe Europe. Where have you got to get them from and to?

KatieMortician · 27/10/2011 18:27

We have great transport options in this country. Quite expensive and often running late but not really dreadful.

I speak as someone who once got a lift from the town to our hotel from the woman who ran the electrical shop because cabs are unheard of in parts of Italy. She also charged a fucking fortune for the privilege (Although we do still laugh about dh being offered a "friendly ride" once she'd finished work by the woman in the tourist information office!)

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