I had occasion to need a train trip from Darlington to Stevenage, say 200 miles, and found that the only way I could actually get a seat would be to travel first class at a cost of £240. Earlier in the same year I had flown to Sydney, say 10,000 miles, for about the same money. I would love to travel by train but in UK it simply doesn't make sense (and I have to say I find Sydney a nicer place to go than Stevenage).

cheers, Terry