I just wondered, as I seem to remember an off-peak half single from London
to Dover costing a lot of money back in 2001. On top of the large cost, I
had to change at Chatham, and the train split in two at Faversham. The
trains were all very old and slam-door.

Now it seems that for about a quarter of what I paid then, I can get a
single for 45-odd miles from Ayr to Glasgow, in under an hour, without
changing trains, and on a lovely, nice, new (but a bit dodgy) Alstom
Juniper for £5.30.

How to train fares there mount up? PS: A peak return from Ayr to Glasgow is
considerably more at £9.10

London Terminals (actually Victoria) to Dover Priory:

CDS £12.90 / £20.70 (Don't ask me why there are two fares - I think
the cheaper one is TO London and the dearer one FROM)
SDS £21.20
FDS £31.80

CDR £20.80
SDR £21.40
NAB £23.40
SVR £28.10
SOR £42.40
FOR £63.60

CDS £12.90 / £20.70 (Don't ask me why there are two fares - I think
the cheaper one is TO London and the dearer one FROM)
SDS £21.20
FDS £31.80
Exactly, for a single, that's about 5 or 6 times the price for the same
distance here.

But while we do hear about things like the train station staying open that
only one person uses, not everywhere is like that.

Given some of the gripes about TFL on here, I've got to commend SPT on
actually running a good service here in Strathclyde. Shiny, new, punctual
electric trains every half hour.
--
"We are now approaching Paisley Gilmour Street"