Whilst car travel can be very convenient, public transport can be a viable alternative for your journey, sometimes working out cheaper and without the environmental impact that everyone travelling individually has. There are a number of public transport options to consider depending on where you live and what your requirements are.
The obvious public transport choices are bus and train travel along with the underground system in cities such as London and Newcastle. But in addition don’t forget coaches and ferries in certain circumstances. If you are town or city based you often have public transport options for local journeys as there are usually regular bus services. It is also usually only a short walk to the local bus stop and will save you trying to park in the city centre, for example, both in terms of cost and time. If you live outside the town, park and ride facilities often exist, again saving you trying to park in the busy centre. Visit the Park and Ride website to find out whether your destination offers this. Your local council website should have information on local bus services.
For longer journeys coach or rail are often the best options. You may even be able to catch a bus from your locality to the coach or train station. It is usually advisable to book in advance if possible for longer journeys as tickets can otherwise be prohibitively expensive. National Express is probably the leading UK coach travel company with a large network of routes. They are sometimes slower than trains but can be cheaper. For information on train travel visit the National Rail Enquiries website.
If you are planning a journey and would like to know your options in terms of public transport, visit the Traveline website where you can plan a journey using buses, coaches, trains, ferries, trams, the metro or underground services in England, Scotland and Wales.
