Fuel Costs Options

[Ron]

I know tax, etc has gone up on road fuel, but does anyone know why it has reached circa £1.25 per litre for diesel when oil is at about $90 a barrel, where as it reached about $140 a barrel before fuel cost reached this level before?

[betsy]

Just passed the BP garage near B & Q. They want 128.9p for Diesel!!

[NWNREADER]

I know tax, etc has gone up on road fuel, but does anyone know why it has reached circa £1.25 per litre for diesel when oil is at about $90 a barrel, where as it reached about $140 a barrel before fuel cost reached this level before?

I'd guess it is because that is what people will pay. Plus it gives the companies a chance to 'absorb' the VAT rise.

[Turin Machine]

People will whinge their socks off and then go on paying it anyway, I'm off to buy shares in BP !

[Phil_D11102]

People will whinge their socks off and then go on paying it anyway, I'm off to buy shares in BP !

It's another opportunity for the gov't to squeeze the taxpayer after years and years of bad decisions and investments.

I work in Bracknell. The cost of using public transportation is more expensive than driving to work. I am starting to work from home more to save costs. I also do volunteer work, and that is costing me more than before, and it is starting to have me think whether or not it's worth it due to the costs I am occurring.

On the weekends, the bus service is not adequate and again to transport a family again is more expensive than driving. If we want to go on a day out say to London, the cost of driving and parking is cheaper and more reliable than taking the train. If I lived in London, then yes, using public transportation is better, but not out in the sticks.

Owning a car in this day an age in not a luxury, it's a necessity. What is the amount of tax that is paid on a litre of petrol, 75, 80 cents. Don't forget to add in the cost of road tax to what the gov't is getting from the taxpayer.


It's not only about BP getting rich, it's the gov't trying to recoup their losses on bad decisions made by various govt's over the years.

[Biker1]

The cost of using public transportation is more expensive than driving to work. .

I doubt it if it is just you travelling and you take in ALL the costs of driving in.

[Brad]

Prices to drive are a joke im 27 never had an accident, been driving 9 years and im paying £550 a year insurance on a 1.3 classic mini that i drive about 1000 miles a year. Fuel prices are ridiculous its getting very close to having to give up my hobby as its just to expensive!

[Phil_D11102]

I doubt it if it is just you travelling and you take in ALL the costs of driving in.

It takes me roughly 40 minutes to drive the 23 miles door to door with my place of employment. It takes me a lot longer by public transport, as I have to transfer trains then take a bus.

When you compare the price of petrol to the price of the train ticket plus the time it takes when I could be earning money instead of sitting on unrealiable public transport, the car is still cheaper.

[Darren]

and a sight more reliable too.

[Biker1]

It takes me roughly 40 minutes to drive the 23 miles door to door with my place of employment. It takes me a lot longer by public transport, as I have to transfer trains then take a bus.

When you compare the price of petrol to the price of the train ticket plus the time it takes when I could be earning money instead of sitting on unrealiable public transport, the car is still cheaper.

It's not just the price of the petrol though is it?

[Biker1]

and a sight more reliable too.

Wait 'till the snow comes!

[Phil_D11102]

It's not just the price of the petrol though is it?

If the price of petrol keeps increasing, then people will be forced to use the unrealiable public transport.

[Biker1]

If the price of petrol keeps increasing, then people will be forced to use the unrealiable public transport.

Define "unreliable" (I presume that is what you meant) in this context.
FGW performance figures here.
Reliability figures all around 99%.

Or are you just going by what you read and see in the media?

[Iommi]

Define "unreliable" (I presume that is what you meant) in this context.
FGW performance figures here.
Reliability figures all around 99%.

Or are you just going by what you read and see in the media?

He said public transport, he didn't specify trains in his post. What does 99% actually mean in practical terms, within the context of trains?

[Phil_D11102]

Or are you just going by what you read and see in the media?

I am talking facts here.

Sure, the trains show up, but at what time.

Did you see the figures on punctuality? How do they measure that? If the train is to show up at Thatcham at 8:30, is 8:45 punctual?

When I have to see customers in London, I take the train. I ensure that I leave Thatcham at least 2.5 hours before the meeting so I arrive on time. If I had to take the train to Bracknell, I would have to leave at least 2 hours to ensure I show up on time.

I have lived in Italy and Germany before, and I can tell you the continental trains are alot more "reliable" than the "service" we have in the UK.

[Biker1]

I am talking facts here.

Sure, the trains show up, but at what time.

Did you see the figures on punctuality? How do they measure that? If the train is to show up at Thatcham at 8:30, is 8:45 punctual?

When I have to see customers in London, I take the train. I ensure that I leave Thatcham at least 2.5 hours before the meeting so I arrive on time. If I had to take the train to Bracknell, I would have to leave at least 2 hours to ensure I show up on time.

I have lived in Italy and Germany before, and I can tell you the continental trains are alot more "reliable" than the "service" we have in the UK.

Are cars punctual?

Do you never get caught in jams or hold ups?

Obviously you can use whatever form of transport you prefer.

I am just trying to put things in perspective from the vastly disproportionate view of public transport that the media presents and many people believe.

No, nothing is perfect and nothing is totally reliable and punctual.
All have their plus and minus points.

The continental rail systems you quote have had vast sums of money spent on them to give the service you state.

Until our attitude towards public transport in this country changes from being a nation of "bus and train bashers" then the confidence and investment will always lack behind those counties who take more of a pride in their public transport systems. Although, having said that, it is not all as bad as is often portrayed and many believe.

Yes I know - off topic again!

[Biker1]

He said public transport, he didn't specify trains in his post. What does 99% actually mean in practical terms, within the context of trains?

To quote the National Rail Targets "Reliability is the number of scheduled trains
that actually run."

[Iommi]

Until our attitude towards public transport in this country changes from being a nation of "bus and train bashers" then the confidence and investment will always lack behind those counties who take more of a pride in their public transport systems. Although, having said that, it is not all as bad as is often portrayed and many believe.

So the rail system is as it is because people moan about it? I don't buy that for a second. The trains get bashed because we have a crap train system. Being a rail enthusiast obviously blinkers your judgement!

To quote the National Rail Targets "Reliability is the number of scheduled trains that actually run."

Rather than actually run on time (not withstanding if you can get a seat)?

If people moved from cars to trains, the system would freeze. I understand the rail system simply doesn't have the capacity for a large amount of car users to abandon their cars and take the train.

Oops, sorry, this is off topic!

[Biker1]

So the rail system is as it is because people moan about it? I don't buy that for a second. The trains get bashed because we have a crap train system. Being a rail enthusiast obviously blinkers your judgement!

No, the rail system is as it is because successive governments have failed to invest because the people that voted them in would find it unpopular because they have a unpopulist view of the railways.

Nothing to do with being a rail enthusiast - I appreciate the system has much too many flaws, but then so has the road system - just trying to provide a balanced view

[Biker1]

If people moved from cars to trains, the system would freeze. I understand the rail system simply doesn't have the capacity for a large amount of car users to abandon their cars and take the train.

Agreed, which is another reason why the government regularly attempts to price passengers off the railways and back into cars instead of investing in the infrastructure!

(Still off topic )