Connecting into trains - the "First Mile" choice and to which station?

[whole diary]

[grahame]

Interesting discussion on zoom last night, concerning use of electric and other cars to connect into trains, and which station you would choose to "railhead" at.  Would you drive / get a lift to your local station, or to a larger station with more services / perhaps direct to final destination, saving a change and perhaps a wait?  How would factors such as cost of parking and availability of spaces effect your choice?  What about choosing a station based on the availability of electric car charging there?  Would you get your partner / flatmate to drive you to the station / pick you up if you commuted 5 days a week, and would your decision change if you only commuted 2 or 3 days a week?  How long would you spend walking / cycling to your station rather than driving? Do you / would you need a car just for local trips?  Just for out-of-town trips?   Neither or both?

I was looking to add a poll here asking for your views in a vote, but I'm not convinced that I can do so without oversimplification or bias within the limitations of the forum software and myself - so going to give a personal example of a journey planned for next week, and the choice I have.

Next Wednesday, I am going from home (Melksham, walk of about 25 minutes to the station) to Romsey to visit my daughter and grandchildren, who have selected that as a relatively quiet spot to meet. Some Options ...

1. Walk to Melksham Station, train to Westbury, change for train to Romsey
2. Bus to Roundponds, train to Westbury, change for train to Romsey
3. Drive to Melksham Station, park there, train to Westbury, change for train to Romsey
4. Lift to Melksham Station, train to Westbury, change for train to Romsey
5. Taxi to Melksham Station, train to Westbury, change for train to Romsey
6. Bus (Market place, 5 mins walk from home) to Trowbridge for direct train to Romsey
7. Drive to Westbury Station, park there, train to Romsey

And evaluation:



My heart says "use local station" but the 60 minute frequency makes Trowbridge or Westbury very tempting.  Westbury is double tempting because of the much shorter journey time, and far later returns;  the 16:22 last service back via Trowbridge is really off-putting.  Walk to station in Melksham is about at my limit these days, but extra £2.50 to park there are perhaps £1 for car running adds a significant £3 to the £12.85 rail fare, and for just 90p more I can drive to and park at Westbury, saving an hour or so (each wy) and having more frequent and late services back.

Personal notes - I can no longer cycle, have senior rail car and senior bus card.  Cost for (6) will rise as when and if Wilts Council restrict ENCTS^▸ (English National Concessionary Travel Scheme) card back to 09:30.

Timings typical for outbound on the 09:09 or trains with same arrival at Romsey; very variable indeed for return journey.

[eightf48544]

Is there parking at Trowbridge? You haven't mentioned drive to rowbridge and park.

[grahame]

Is there parking at Trowbridge? You haven't mentioned drive to rowbridge and park.

There is, but Westbury Station is just as quick a drive as Trowbridge Station though perhaps a couple of miles further - Trowbridge station involves picking my way through urban areas that Westbury does not.  Westbury better for waiting / connections if something goes wrong, and a slightly shorter journey to Romsey too.

[PhilWakely]

Does the cost of option 6 (Westbury) allow for using a Melksham to Romsey rail ticket, which appears to be cheaper than a Westbury to Romsey fare (£12.85 v £14.80)?

My personal prfeference from your choices would be to drive to Westbury as you would have a wider choice of services available (you could afford to miss the last train back to Melksham) and, in the (likely?) event of the Melksham service being cancelled, you would be unaffected.

Sure, this would affect your Melksham passenger count and your desire to use your local station, but your own personal needs must come first.

[grahame]

The cost of the Westbury trip includes the best fare I am aware of - which is the Melksham to Romsey ticket. It also includes off peak car parking at Westbury, and electric cost for my car for the journey to and from Westbury but not any other costs for the car such as depreciation / insurance / service elements.

The cost of car parking at Melksham is the all day and not the off peak rate as I've used at Westbury. That's because of the earlier departure needed from Melksham to get to Romsey at the time desired - the 09:09 train from there is off peak, but it's peak parking rates until 10:00 (probably catch you for the 10:02 train going the other way too).

[grahame]

Plans changed because of the awful weather ... outbound option No. 4, inbound option No. 1, but a change at the Romsey end because the weather was going to be inappropriate for the cafe in the park.

Picked up kebabs on the walk back from the station which we have just finished and we're catching up on "Married at First Sight, Australia" to relax ... I will write up (the trip, not the TV show) in the morning.