to sell the car and commute by train?

[LapsedTwentysomething]

I live in a rural area. I have a new job in the next town which is a 25 min drive away but there are always roadworks and tractors to contend with. I tend to reckon on £75/mth running costs and diesel is £150/mth.

There is also a direct train line about 10 mins walk from me, 15 min journey and another 10 min walk the other end. The train only runs every two hours but next year will run hourly. I won't get there as early as I'd like but would still be comfortably on time if the trains run reliably. The journey home is good timing except for one evening a week when I have a meeting, but I could always work late and catch the next one. All this for the princely sum of £3.85 return.

Saving £150+/mth

But. Would it do my head in? Delays, out in all weathers with work docs and equipment, a big hill to climb to get home (good exercise!) Has anyone sacrificed the car? How do you get on? We would still have one between us for the school run. DH would be working from home.

Give it a trial run? Personally, I found the trains in Winter to be awful. Cold, wet a depressing. I used to think of my warm, dry car with longing. Went back to my old job!

I second the trial run. It really sounds like it could work out great, but might be horrible in practice. Do it for a few months and then decide.

Would DH be able to give you a lift to and from the station if the weather was bad?

Or go by ?

I'd LOVE to take the train if I could. You get the fresh air and exercise of walking to and from the stations, you avoid sitting in rush-hour traffic, and you can nap or read the paper.

I would do a trial run first. It sounds great in theory but the trains can be really unreliable. The commuter trains from our town are often overcrowded (when they run) and many of them are cancelled too.

I wouldn't want to rely on the train to get me to/from work, especially when the weather is bad.

DH could do lifts this end, yes, but I wouldn't want to do that often because it's a pain with DCs. No lift the other end.

I have fleece lined Ugg boots and a Merrell Ellenwood coat. Warterproof trouser?

Bike in summer, def. There's a canal towpath in good nick all the way.

Car insurance is due in mid Sept. Suppose I could always insure it shorter term. Can you get a refund for unused months?

Hmmm..well, biking in winter isn't that much different to biking in summer tbh. You just wear warmer clothes, and you get all of the obvious benefits. There's very few days generally where the ice or snow are bad enough to stop people going by - it's just a bit more challenging. And going by a tow path would be excellent.

Yes do several trial runs, in term time not the holidays and talk to your fellow passengers. My commuter train was standing room only and had an AtoZ list of excuses for being late!

Second that biking in winter isn't gruelling, especially with a dedicated cyclepath.

I miss my commute by bike, there is a special joy to be found cycling past standstill traffic.

You can get a refund on part of the insurance for the year, but definitely give it a decent couple of weeks before you commit.

Silly question - how long is a piece of string and all that - but about how long might I expect 18 miles by bike to take? I'm reasonably fit but no athlete!

14 miles takes me 50 mins, BUT..that is in heavy traffic so a lot of slowing, filtering, roundabouts, traffic lights etc. And I live in the Peaks and ride into central Manchester. With the gift of riding largely along a tow path, then I'd guess about the same time, or 1 hr for 18 miles. It sounds a long way but once you are going the miles just drop by so as you hardly notice them.

and of course you get beautifully toned and shaped legs, and buns of steel.

Plus all the walking on train days ...

Lapsed I second the advice to give it a trial in term time and see how it goes. If you go onto Google Maps you can plot the route and ask it to calculate for cycling, but I have no idea what speed that would be for. You could also do similar using Measure Map which lets you customise your speed.

Oh and you can get a refund on your car insurance for unused months, with some companies at least, but may well incur an admin charge (it cost me £35 when I did that).

You won't need to defrost the car in the winter...

Could you bike to the station, might make the walk/hill a bit less of a consideration?

I live on a good bus route, and managed to get a student pass so my travelling cost me £8 a week, I was within 5 minutes of the bus stop either end. I've still just given in, after 4 years, and bought a car. I pay more than my bus pass in parking, plus petrol, etc, but I don't care! It makes such a difference. Before, I was late out of work by even a few minutes, I'd miss my bus, have to wait half an hour for the next one, so I used to really begrudge anything keeping me at work. I'm not gonna have to wait in the cold for a bus, I'm not gonna have that wierdo sat next to me, and if I'm late it's my own fault.

Bikes have a nasty habit of walking from/or being damaged at stations. DH chained his really firmly so some nob just stamped on the back wheel and destroyed it.