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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if you commute to London for work

75 replies

Lurverly · 27/08/2023 17:22

From outside london (Obvs) how far do you live from london and where and how much does it cost you?

ive been offered a job that will pay me about £500 pcm more after tax than current role BUT it’s London and I’m West Midlands. An open return train ticket seems to be £100, and I’d have to go once a week. I’ve looked up season tickets and it’s £700 a month! Surely this can’t be right? Are there cheaper ways? It’s a good opportunity but I’m not sure it’s worth it for an extra £100 a month

OP posts:
Alconleigh · 27/08/2023 18:54

I commute from East Mids and it's about £160 for a peak time return if not booked way in advance. I'm on a home based contract though. I used to live in Reading and a season ticket was £5k a year to go 49 miles!

Original poster
Lurverly · 27/08/2023 18:56

Alconleigh · 27/08/2023 18:54

I commute from East Mids and it's about £160 for a peak time return if not booked way in advance. I'm on a home based contract though. I used to live in Reading and a season ticket was £5k a year to go 49 miles!

Ive looked to late nov and it’s the same £188.80, it’s shocking.

OP posts:
ZombiesAreClammyDodgers · 27/08/2023 18:57

I don't understand this as a AIBU topic...but-

Used to commute to London 3-4 days a week, 30-60 minute train, but door to door 1.5 hours.
Hated it- great to be in London, but exhausting. Train used to be £40 a day (not including Oyster or parking (£10 a day after they changed rules) if I wanted to reach on time in the morning. Now got job working from home and go in only in a while.

Alconleigh · 27/08/2023 18:57

Yes unfortunately Advance tickets seem to vary a lot between train lines. Some do lots, some very few. I don't think the pay rise is worth it for you OP. Train travel is one of the many things in this country that is utterly broken........

enchantedsquirrelwood · 27/08/2023 18:58

I commute in sometimes. It's about £38 so I have a Network Railcard which means I buy a single out and a single with the railcard back and save about £5.50 .
The saving will be greater on a £70 fare.

Not sure where you live but I think Chiltern comes under the Network Railcard scheme.

ElizaMulvil · 27/08/2023 19:06

Can be cheaper still - £9 off if 15 mins late ( and they even send you an email to remind you to claim. )

Unicorn2022 · 27/08/2023 19:17

Some of my colleagues come in by coach from Birmingham one day a week. It's about 3hours and £7.99 each way

ChillysWaterBottle · 27/08/2023 19:19

I used to but the commute was so expensive I moved to being fully remote. I miss London but I just couldn't justify it once it became possible to do my job remotely.

Yellowlegobrick · 27/08/2023 19:20

Don't mistake thinking that a higher salary in london means a promotion/payrise vs what you'd get in a cheaper part of the country.

In my experience you need to earn at least 20% higher in London, or more on a lower salary, to compensate for either the housing costs or the travel.

10HailMarys · 27/08/2023 19:29

West Midlands to London isn’t really a standard commute. It’s an intercity trip and if you’re travelling in peak hours (which i assume you will be, in order to get to work at a normal time) then yes, it’s going to cost a lot of money unfortunately.

However, I think the fares you’re quoting are the walk-up fares, ie what you’d pay on the day of your journey. If you know what days and times you need to be in London, and could definitely travel on your chosen train, you might be able to pre-book tickets on specific trains a few weeks in advance, which would be a bit cheaper. Peak time train travel is super expensive though.

SoftPillowAllNight · 27/08/2023 19:30

Is the role a step-up/promotion? If you assume your salary to be the same (after commute cost) then are you gaining a step-up in your career ladder / fantastic experience or exposure - something which could translate into a better job/pay a year or two down the line?

If yes - it's worth taking - with time you will figure out the most cost efficient way to travel / flex the number of days you go in.

If no - then why take it?

FleetwoodMacAttack · 27/08/2023 19:32

What happens when they change their policy and need you in the office 4 days per week? If you’re stretched at only one it seems a bit mad to be considering the move.

Blackcountryexile · 27/08/2023 19:40

Perhaps I've misunderstood something but on the Avanti website I've found a train from New Street arriving Euston at 9.06 and leaving at 19.10 arriving in New Street 20.27 on 6th October for £40 return.

Blaggingit123 · 27/08/2023 19:42

I travel to London from the midlands approx twice per month, via expenses but due to London weighting I do look at the price to check it’s not worth me being London based and paying for my own travel. I don’t book open returns as it’s against company policy, but advance singles are always over £100 for return at busy times, and considerably more if not booked in advance.

I wouldn’t even consider getting a slower train - with the 1hr15 fastest train it’s 2.5 hours door to door - so 5 hours travelling if I don’t stay overnight. No chance I’d get a 2.5 hour train or suggestion of a coach is batshit for a day at work!! I’d want an extra £1k after tax to justify both the additional cost and the commitment to travel that regularly I think, and even then I doubt I’d agreed to it.

Original poster
Lurverly · 27/08/2023 19:45

FleetwoodMacAttack · 27/08/2023 19:32

What happens when they change their policy and need you in the office 4 days per week? If you’re stretched at only one it seems a bit mad to be considering the move.

I don’t think they would, it’s very unlikely for our industry

OP posts:
fins2 · 27/08/2023 19:47

I go twice a month and that costs me £100 a month from the midlands. That's with me getting a 1/3 off rail prices and £3.50 car parking too! Will go up in Jan when they stop the travel cards.

Original poster
Lurverly · 27/08/2023 19:48

Blackcountryexile · 27/08/2023 19:40

Perhaps I've misunderstood something but on the Avanti website I've found a train from New Street arriving Euston at 9.06 and leaving at 19.10 arriving in New Street 20.27 on 6th October for £40 return.

What time did it depart?

ive looked on train line that’s all so far and even til December the trains are £188 return

OP posts:
Original poster
Lurverly · 27/08/2023 19:49

10HailMarys · 27/08/2023 19:29

West Midlands to London isn’t really a standard commute. It’s an intercity trip and if you’re travelling in peak hours (which i assume you will be, in order to get to work at a normal time) then yes, it’s going to cost a lot of money unfortunately.

However, I think the fares you’re quoting are the walk-up fares, ie what you’d pay on the day of your journey. If you know what days and times you need to be in London, and could definitely travel on your chosen train, you might be able to pre-book tickets on specific trains a few weeks in advance, which would be a bit cheaper. Peak time train travel is super expensive though.

Maybe I’m looking in the wrong place but I’m looking on the trainline, even in like November and the price is still £188

OP posts:
Original poster
Lurverly · 27/08/2023 19:49

fins2 · 27/08/2023 19:47

I go twice a month and that costs me £100 a month from the midlands. That's with me getting a 1/3 off rail prices and £3.50 car parking too! Will go up in Jan when they stop the travel cards.

Are the rail cards stopping? See I could live with £100 a month

OP posts:
PensionPuzzle · 27/08/2023 19:49

That New Street to Euston line was surprisingly unreliable when DP was using it, and the local service to connect in was even worse. That might not be an issue if you can get away with not going to the office on days when it's all going wrong, but you'd need absolutely rock solid childcare for the return. That route seems to have more than its share of problems!

Original poster
Lurverly · 27/08/2023 19:51

Blaggingit123 · 27/08/2023 19:42

I travel to London from the midlands approx twice per month, via expenses but due to London weighting I do look at the price to check it’s not worth me being London based and paying for my own travel. I don’t book open returns as it’s against company policy, but advance singles are always over £100 for return at busy times, and considerably more if not booked in advance.

I wouldn’t even consider getting a slower train - with the 1hr15 fastest train it’s 2.5 hours door to door - so 5 hours travelling if I don’t stay overnight. No chance I’d get a 2.5 hour train or suggestion of a coach is batshit for a day at work!! I’d want an extra £1k after tax to justify both the additional cost and the commitment to travel that regularly I think, and even then I doubt I’d agreed to it.

Yeah you’re right, it’s just going to be knackering! And a 3 hr coach, it’s 6hrs commuting and I’ve got young kids too

OP posts:
Original poster
Lurverly · 27/08/2023 19:52

PensionPuzzle · 27/08/2023 19:49

That New Street to Euston line was surprisingly unreliable when DP was using it, and the local service to connect in was even worse. That might not be an issue if you can get away with not going to the office on days when it's all going wrong, but you'd need absolutely rock solid childcare for the return. That route seems to have more than its share of problems!

My husband wfh so that would be fine, it’s just the cost and the effort. Looks more and more unappealing

OP posts:
fins2 · 27/08/2023 19:52

@Lurverly currently you basically get tube/bus trips across London included in the ticket (for certain ones at least) but they're stopping that next year.

Original poster
Lurverly · 27/08/2023 19:54

fins2 · 27/08/2023 19:52

@Lurverly currently you basically get tube/bus trips across London included in the ticket (for certain ones at least) but they're stopping that next year.

Do you commute from newstreet? I’m floored by the price?

how do you get it for £100 a month (ish)

OP posts:
fluffi · 27/08/2023 19:57

@Lurverly what does the contract say about where you should work? They might be saying 1 day a week in the office at the moment during interviews, but if contract says they can dictate when you should be in the office then that might increase to 2,3,4,5 days a week and you won’t be able to say no and they will say you should have read the contract.