7 questions on costly travel

Midweek quiz

Britain's most expensive train fare - £1,002 for first class return between Newquay in Cornwall to the Kyle of Lochalsh in the Highlands - has raised the eyebrows of travellers nationwide. But how much do you know about the cost of travel?

1.) Multiple Choice Question

So it's £1,002 to buy the Newquay to Kyle of Lochalsh ticket on the day of travel. How far is this return journey?

1. 480 miles (772km)
   
2. 1,008 miles (1,622km)
   
3. 1,700 miles (2,736km)
   

2.) Multiple Choice Question

Let's get that £1,002 into perspective. The most expensive first class adult ticket on Europe's famous inter-rail scheme is £735. How many continuous days of travel does this ticket get you?

1. 15 days
   
2. 22 days
   
3. One month
   
4. Two months
   

3.) Multiple Choice Question

The Orient Express is many people's idea of a luxurious way to burn money. It's a two-day trip to the Adriatic, with meals and a cabin thrown in. So how much does a return cost (based on two people sharing a cabin)?

1. £609
   
2. £1054
   
3. £1,789
   
4. £2,325
   

4.) Multiple Choice Question

While we're on the subject of luxury travel, flying London to Sydney is one of the longest journeys a British person can make. How much would a first class BA ticket cost if you were to leave tomorrow and come back in a week's time?

1. £6,200
   
2. £8,338
   
3. £10,453
   
4. £12,109
   

5.) Multiple Choice Question

Airport taxes add extra £££ to the cost of a flight. International flights are levied by the destination country. But how much is the airport tax to fly within the UK?

1. No charge
   
2. £5 a passenger
   
3. £10 a passenger
   
4. £20 a passenger
   

6.) Multiple Choice Question

When the Heathrow Express, which links London Paddington to the airport, opened in 1998, tickets were said to cost, mile-for-mile, more than any other railway in the world. What's the per mile cost today?

1. £1.38
   
2. £3.18
   
3. £8.31
   

7.) Multiple Choice Question

And finally, back to the Kyle of Lochalsh, from where the controversial Skye bridge leaves the mainland. What's the toll for a car to cross this bridge?

1. Free
   
2. £2.40
   
3. £4.70
   
4. £9.40
   

Info

And these were the tolls charged at the time. Charges had been in force since the bridge opened in October 1995 and were bitterly opposed by protesters.

Answers

1. It's a 1,700 mile (2,736km) return trip, shared between First Great Western, Cross Country and Scotrail. Advance fares cost £561.
2. It's one month. A 22-day continuous first class ticket is a mere £569. But remember, you can't use inter-rail in your country of residence.
3. It's a whopping £2,325.
4. It's £8,338. If you're more of a cheapskate, the cheapest return around (not on BA, and most definitely NOT in first class) is about £800.
5. It's £10 a passenger to fly within the UK, except the Scottish Highlands and Islands. The highest airport tax levied in the UK is £80 a passenger for international travel outside the European Economic Area - such as to Australia.
6. It's £1.38. The train runs over 12 miles of track and a standard single fare is £16.50.
7. It's now free - the unpopular and rather eye-watering tolls were abolished in 2004 after the Scottish Executive bought back the bridge from its private owners.

Your Score

0 - 3 : Penalty fare

4 - 6 : Cattle class

7 - 7 : Free upgrade

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