(Notes from a talk given at SOW meeting in October 23)

Journeys by public transport usually take longer than driving – but you can do something on the journey so needn’t waste the time. Not always 100% smooth but often are, and much less hassle to plan now we have mobile phone apps and websites. Definitely reduce our carbon footprint – 25% of a typical personal footprint is transport and 75% of that is personal car use – it’s a relatively easy part of our footprint to tackle.

Top tip: use google maps

• Website or app (great if you are on the go – can start the journey and it will tell you when to change buses etc)
• Great for overview – different options – eg if you’ve no idea how to get to somewhere by public transport
• Doesn’t know about prices – may give expensive options
• 95% reliable. Worth double checking. Eg. use the website traveline.info

Bus tickets & times

• For the last few months, all singles have been £2 (→ £2.50 from 1 Nov I think). Has been great – easy to travel round the country regardless of bus company
• Most local buses are Stagecoach. A Day rider costs £5, but better is a Flexi 10 (bought on their app) working out at £3.50 each (and unlike normal Day Riders, includes St Ives via the busway)
• Megariders for regular frequent travel
• 30% off for youth; small group (up to 3 people, £8 for a day rider) and large group (up to 5 people, £11 for the day)
• All of these come in three flavours: “Town” (includes Oakington) “Plus” (county) and “East” zones

For local travel, use the MyBusTrip app. (Stagecoach also has an app & need for flexirider, but this one is better. Use this once you know which stop you need)

• Lists buses due at a particular stop
• Can see them moving on map– so you can see where your bus has got to
• Save your favourite stops
• Shows real or timetabled time (if the bus has not begun yet OR is not sending its signal) – like the realtime information at bus stops.
• Don’t give up. If a timetabled-time one is due then disappears, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist, more likely it’s late!

Top tips for trains

Lots of websites available to give info and sell tickets, eg trainline, national rail enquiries, different operators. But these are our top picks:

• Google maps for times – if you just want to see how to make a journey
• Trainsplit for tickets (app/website). Splitting exploits loopholes in the ticketing system (eg Cambridge to Peterborough and Peterborough to Edinburgh tickets can add up to less than the cost of a Cambridge to Edinburgh ticket.) Trainsplit was the original website and is a good one. Splitting limits you even if you don’t have advance tickets, eg you have to stop at the split (Peterborough in the example). But normally you simply follow the schedule it gives you. Don’t worry about delayed trains – you are still allowed to travel.
  • Can choose fastest/cheapest/flexible
  • Sacrifice flexibility to save money
• Realtime trains (website) when you’re at the station. Simple website which lists the departures and arrivals at a station. (Including any delays, and which platform – often before the platform number is advertised on the station info boards.) It’s probably what the staff use!

More about train tickets…

• Basically the system is: Anytime/off-peak/super off-peak and Advance (cheaper, sometimes amazingly so, but fixed to a particular train) – but there are anomalies, rover tickets etc, and off-peak times unhelpfully vary between routes and operators
• Advance tickets sell out and you are tied to that train. Recommend getting a bus in hand if catching a train you have an advance ticket for!
• Railcards. Are you single, childless, able-bodied, aged 30-60, and not just travelling in the south-east? If so bad luck. Otherwise there is a 30% off railcard for you!
• Delay repay. From 15 minutes late. Disastrous journeys pay for themselves! Depends on train company

Europe by Train

• Definitely consider. Very comfortable and can be as quick or nearly as quick as flying. Probably not cheaper but the carbon cost of flying is much greater. And if you book in advance and are able to avoid busy times, not as expensive.
• Man in Seat 61 website. Brilliant website which will tell you everything you need to know about planning and booking your journey.
• Raileurope website to buy through tickets. Can be cheaper to buy different parts of your journey from different places, (eg buy a Germany to Czech Republic ticket from Czech railways, not German – man in seat 61 wil tell you) but RailEurope is simple.
• Deutsche Bahn website bahn.de is very good for train times throughout Europe. (Has an English version.)
• Interrail. Not just for young people! The cheapest 4-travel-days-in-a-month ticket can be cheaper than last minute booking normal tickets. You have to pay extra for fast trains including Eurostar and TGV, but not German fast trains.

Cycling websites

• Cyclestreets.net (website or app). Better than google maps for finding an urban cycle route. Turn by turn so either you need a good memory or to keep looking at your phone
• Cycle.travel website (probably one of several possibilities) for longer journeys – cyclestreets can send you along muddy footpaths I’ve found!

Concluding remarks!

In an ideal world there would be lots of public transport, cheap and easy to use. Like London! But won’t get to that ideal world if nobody uses public transport – use it or lose it.
It does help to plan ahead. I find this hard but it is satisfying to nab a bargain!
Enjoy the journey! Relax, watch the scenery, read a book, enjoy the bustle of our big stations, chat to someone at a bus stop, make the journey part of the destination!