By Zahra Arshad
Travelling to university can be tough when you’re coming in from further afield. Getting out of bed can be a chore any day, let alone when you’ve got a two hour journey ahead of you. If you’re not one of the lucky ones, who gets to roll out of bed five minutes before your classes start, spare a thought for us commuting students.
Finding the right form of travel is important for many reasons, but mostly, anything that makes your morning easier is a bonus. Here are some of the positives and negatives of travelling by train to help you decide what’s best for you.
Positives
Relaxing views
Travelling by train can be boring, but occasionally you will see something out of this world. With scenic views to enjoy, you can sit back and enjoy the vast display of endless towns, countryside and jaw-dropping landscapes from your seat.
Use time productively
Long journeys can be tiresome and repetitive but going by train frees you up to do something a bit more productive. This is your chance to catch up on a good book or go over lecture notes. Just don’t spend the entire time scrolling through Facebook!
Freedom
You may not have had that much freedom with travelling to high school or even college, or maybe you just weren’t that far away. With uni comes a big step, and you have all the freedom you could want and the option of travelling alone. This also means you can head home whenever you like with trains running late in to the night.
Negatives
Ticket prices
Don’t get me started on ticket prices! With huge hikes recently, there are still some ways of getting around the prices like buying return tickets instead of singles and booking well in advance of your travel where possible.
Delays and cancellations
One of the worst things that can happen on any trip is getting delayed. Cancellations can occur, but very rarely happen. If it does happen, most of the time it shows up on the train app. You can also check the National Rail Enquires page for the most accurate and up-to-date information. If it’s a last-minute cancellation, they will tell you at the station and point you in the direction of alternatives.
Crowded trains
Expecting a seat? It’s very unlikely that you will find one at peak times in the morning and after work, as you’re joined by everyone will be catching the train home. Getting there early doesn’t always work either, as you’ll find everyone has the same idea!
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