May 1st - Grand Central journey: we need to talk about pricing

I'm aboard the 8.26am from London to Sunderland, run by "open access" train operator Grand Central. My ticket cost £42. Grand Central had to pay around £2 in commission to rival LNER, with whom I chose to book because of a cashback offer.

I think train operators should behave more like budget airlines.

This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Simon Calder is the Independent’s travel correspondent, the UK’s leading travel journalist. From news updates to discussions with experts, Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast will bring you all you need to know from the world of travel.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

• No. of episodes: 1,090
• Latest episode: 2025-05-20
• Society & Culture

Where can you listen?