Commuting Costs - Reading to London

panthro · 8 Dec 2011 at 10:26

I'm applying for some jobs based in central London, specifically at a company located in Old Street. A travel card from Reading to Paddington (20-25 mins fast train) for a month is around £375 I think.
Does anyone else think this is damn expensive?
I live 8 minutes walk from Reading station and I don't fancy moving to London, but I cant think of any viable cheaper alternatives to get from Reading to London on a daily basis.

qqg3 · 8 Dec 2011 at 10:29

Best you'll get, I know a few people who make the same trip. Trains are expensive down there.

ikillbears · 8 Dec 2011 at 10:32

its such an expensive line that one. my brother was charged 99 pounds for a single from paddington to bath. A single! also the commute when you get to paddington will be hell as well. better off moving

Moley · 8 Dec 2011 at 10:34

I'm afraid that's quite normal prices, a peak time travelcard will cost you £43 per day. However if you can commute from Twyford instead it'll cost you just £28 per day - a massive £15 saving for getting on the train just one stop down the line!

Frankly the pricing is ridiculous unless you get a Season ticket, which is when they discount massively.

These are the season ticket prices for a Reading-Paddington Travelcard:

7 Days £109.00
1 Month £409.00
3 Months £1,226.90
6 Months £2,453.80
12 Months £4,260.00

and these are for Twyford-Paddington:

7 Days £89.90
1 Month £345.30
3 Months £1,035.70
6 Months £2,071.30
12 Months £3,596.00

I hope this is of some help.

Rilot · 8 Dec 2011 at 10:36

Moley said:
I'm afraid that's quite normal prices, a peak time travelcard will cost you £43 per day. However if you can commute from Twyford instead it'll cost you just £28 per day - a massive £15 saving for getting on the train just one stop down the line!

Frankly the pricing is ridiculous.

Aye, many people I know park in Twyford and then get the 30 min fast train that only stops at Maidenhead and Paddington in the morning.
However, don't expect to get a seat though.

panthro · 8 Dec 2011 at 10:38

My friend goes the Twyford - Paddington route, but thats not really viable for me, because I live literally next to Reading station. He pays £330 for a full travel card. The rail alone is £270.

rsatd · 8 Dec 2011 at 11:05

Lucky you, mine is 460 a month from didcot to paddington... It depends what time you need to be in, I seem to miss majority of the commuters.

Mr Jack · 8 Dec 2011 at 11:11

panthro said:
Does anyone else think this is damn expensive?

Welcome to working in London. On the other hand, employers in London know this so you should get paid a bit more for working there.

ntg · 8 Dec 2011 at 11:15

I do that commute daily for years now.

I can assure you:
- it is as expensive as you've seen, no other option for cheaper
- it is crowded to the extent that 3/5 of the weekdays you will stand all the way TO&FROM paddington to reading
- it will rarely take you 25mins, count for 35-40 on average.

My advice? Do what I'm doing, move into London!!!!

The £400 extra per month that you'll spend on your commute you can add on rent and rent somewhere nice in London.

ikillbears · 8 Dec 2011 at 11:16

Mr Jack said:
Welcome to working in London. On the other hand, employers in London know this so you should get paid a bit more for working there.

or they might reimburse you for your travelcard. thats what my flat mate scored

panthro · 8 Dec 2011 at 12:35

I have no plans of moving to London. I'm fine with working there, but I don't want to live there. It would only be a 12 month contract anyway. If it turned into a more permanent job I may consider moving closer to London. Plus I just bought my place in Reading and not sure if I am allowed to rent it out under my mortgage agreement.

Noble-Kebab · 8 Dec 2011 at 12:40

kgi said:
- it is crowded to the extent that 3/5 of the weekdays you will stand all the way

Oh no you have to stand for 25 minutes, it's not exactly a long time

ntg · 8 Dec 2011 at 12:47

Noble-Kebab said:
Oh no you have to stand for 25 minutes, it's not exactly a long time

It's 35-40mins on average. And having to stand squeezed among others, both ways, day-in-day-out is no fun. Do it for a few years and come back to discuss whether it feels like a long time or not.

DAIR · 8 Dec 2011 at 12:53

Way too much money.

Would you be better off moving to London?

Noble-Kebab · 8 Dec 2011 at 12:57

kgi said:
It's 35-40mins on average. And having to stand squeezed among others, both ways, day-in-day-out is no fun. Do it for a few years and come back to discuss whether it feels like a long time or not.

I work and in live in London so am used to the crush - my daily commute is just under an hour.

Put your headphones in and the time will go by quicker, you get used to standing

J.B · 8 Dec 2011 at 12:58

Work give me an interest free loan over 10 months for a yearly ticket which makes it easier. Saving is substantial over buying weekly and monthly tickets. The year ticket costs me £3600 and include tube but yes it does feel like a lot of money!

Freefaller · 8 Dec 2011 at 13:00

DAIR said:
Way too much money.

Would you be better off moving to London?

He'd probably end up paying the £375 a month on rent and the expense of living in London, then still have to pay for a travelcard....

DAIR · 8 Dec 2011 at 13:01

Stay in reading.... Find job in Reading

panthro · 8 Dec 2011 at 13:17

DAIR said:
Stay in reading.... Find job in Reading

Thats really useful information there, thanks very much for your input.

Bazinga.

DAIR · 8 Dec 2011 at 13:22

panthro said:
Thats really useful information there, thanks very much for your input.

Bazinga.

Sorry... That was just in response to the person who quoted me.

On a serious note the only other option is to drive. I used to work in Shoreditch (Curtain Road) close enough to Old Street. Parking in that area will cost you at least 10.00 per day.