Are Weekend Trains a Rip-Off? A Train Driver Tells the Truth

Send us Fan MailAre weekend trains in Sussex and Surrey actually fit for purpose—or are passengers being short-changed? In this lively roundtable, a train driver pulls back the curtain on why weekend rail travel feels so broken.10 key aspects we tackle:Why weekends feel worse than weekdays Delays, cancellations, diversions, overcrowding—listeners’ lived experience clashes with “acceptable” official stats.The engineering works problem Weekend closures are constant, but poor coordination turns necessary maintenance into total network chaos.Staffing myths vs reality It’s not drivers “pulling sickies”—Sunday working contracts and rostering rules leave services fragile.A fragmented rail system Too many companies, too many silos—operators, Network Rail, leasing firms and contractors all passing the buck.Fares that feel like a rip-off UK rail tickets are expensive and painfully complex, leaving passengers confused and overpaying.Victorian infrastructure in a modern world Outdated tunnels, ageing signalling and underinvestment make the system fragile—and weekends pay the price.Will renationalisation fix anything? Great British Railways promises joined-up thinking, but nationalisation alone isn’t a magic wand.Automation vs human presence Driverless trains might be efficient—but what about safety, reassurance, and antisocial behaviour onboard?The reality of being a train driver Extreme shift work, high responsibility, health impacts—and why drivers defend their pay and conditions.What would actually make trains better Longer turnarounds, smarter planning around major events, real coordination between companies, and putting passengers first.Bottom line: Weekend trains aren’t failing by accident—they’re the product of a complex, underfunded, poorly joined-up system. The question is whether the next phase of rail reform starts to fix it… or just rebrands the problem.Roundtable Featuring: Stephen Pritchard (Train Driver), Georgie Lucas, Iqbal Khan, Aga Es, Jacq Inwood, James Tidy and Maureen Jones. Host: Clive Hilton. Please click on 'Send a text' above & join our Facebook group to share your perspective and suggestions for future topics - Thank you for your interest! Clive.