| You don't need to go via London - go to Crewe and catch the sleeper that is going to Inverness.
Are you really comparing like with like journeys?
You have included the total travel time for the train including the sleeper time but you haven't included the time for the sleep during the sleep at the travel lodge. I guess this makes the train somewhat quicker.
You have not included any wear and tear on your car (ignore tax and insurance because you were going to pay that anyway - unless the journey puts your annual mileage over into another insurance band).
As far as fares are concerned a mate caught the sleeper down from Glasgow to London for LIDS for the princely sum of about £15 plus a return ticket costing about £30 (first class obviously). You can get very good deals on public transport if you plan ahead - you are so you should be able to get cracking deal. £203.50 is the walk on fare - the price that you would have to pay if you hadn't booked in advance.
Something that you have not factored in is the lack of stress that you will experience in general when travelling by train - you will get there and back feeling somewhat better than car as you can walk around, sleep, charge your phone, use the loo, etc. |