Google maps recommends the TRAIN

[whole diary]

[Btline]

I was shocked when I put Melksham to Swindon into Google directions.
The default option was to take the TRAIN and I had to manually switch to car!

[grahame]

I was shocked when I put Melksham to Swindon into Google directions.
The default option was to take the TRAIN and I had to manually switch to car!

Excellent news  ... here's what Connecting Wiltshire gave me:



and that includes 10 minutes of walking time in the public transport option.   I believe that the 13 pounds is the single journey cost for a car, so that's 26 pounds return.  An anytime day return from Melksham to Swindon costs 9.20 and an off peak day return costs 6.70. 

[LiskeardRich]

It would not cost that much to drive the given distance, I'd say that would be right with wear and tear for double that distance.

[John R]

Got to add the cost of parking in Swindon as well....., which I've just looked up and an annual season ticket in the long stay parks is ^1390 a year. As of tomorrow the annual season ticket from Melksham to Swindon is ^1520.

[grahame]

It would not cost that much to drive the given distance, I'd say that would be right with wear and tear for double that distance.

Car running costs vary hugely - http://www.theaa.com/resources/Documents/pdf/motoring-advice/running-costs/petrol2013.pdf - from 23.3 p / mile (so 6.45 for a one way journey / 12.90 return) if you exclude road tax, depreciation, insurance and other fixed costs through 31.7 p / mile (so 8.78 for a one way journey) if you drive a car that cost under ^13,000 when new and do 30,000 miles a year in it via 48.62 p / mile (so 13.47 for a one way journey) if your car cost ^13,000 to ^18,000 when new and you do 15,000 miles a year to some really horrid costs if you have a luxury motor that you only take out occasionally.  Even more complicated to work out than rail fares!

[LiskeardRich]

Grahame, there is a link on cynthias thread to calculate true running costs. Mine came up at under 20p a mile. However its such a variable, whether you buy a brand new car and run it for 3 years, depreciation will be high, or buy a used car and run it to the ground.
HMRC i understand deem 45p a mile to gone the normal cost per mile.