(09 Sep 2015, 7:45 pm)Dan wrote I can get to work in just over 30 minutes (depending on the time I go which determines which bus I get from Gateshead), providing the Metro section of my commute is with no disruption. The connections don't work half as well on an evening as they do on a morning, so usually takes 50+ minutes.
It really is a killer day in, day out, so I'd hate for my commute to be an hour or more in each direction. I avoid the Metro as much as possible on a weekend now as I have at least five hours on it in total during the week.
Even though it will be a lot more expensive (especially given that my travel at the moment is free), I can't wait to be able to drive to work in my own car. The advantages definitely outweigh the disadvantages. Hopefully just a month (two at most) to go, assuming I pass my practical first time...
I used to do the trip every day for about a year, when I was based at Long Benton myself. The first leg of it wasn't too bad on the 194/294. It was before the Usworth College opened, so you didn't have that much traffic going Heworth way. The Metro used to be really bad on the way home from Long Benton around 4pm, but most piled off between South Gosforth and Haymarket, presumably to catch connecting buses.
Driving to work and parking is great if you have the facility to do so. For me, I'd have to use City Centre car parks, so it'd cost me a good 50 quid a month just to park.