Tales of a Commuter: Part One

I have finally returned to University and the first week is officially over. Having said that, I have to admit I am completely exhausted. It has been an incredibly eventful return where attending lectures and Arabic lessons as well as planning the next UNICEF on Campus event has left me looking more like a headless chicken than a law student!

Furthermore, the start of a new semester also means getting back into the groove of the commute to University. I won’t deny that it is definitely a shock to the system having to get up every day in the morning and having to leave the confines of my winter break hibernation. Then again, I don’t think any students relished the thought of having to get up on Monday morning – particularly on the earlier side of midday!

Still, as I was driving into University today, it came to me that I could perhaps share with you all my experiences of commuting.

For the whole of my first year I travelled on the train so this blog post will include some useful tips that I think all commuting students should know!

Tips when Commuting by TRAIN:

1.    Always Check the Timetable

This is the most important piece of wisdom I can give you. Despite the fact that 95% of the time, the train is unbelievably amazing and reliable, there are instances, however, where problems and delays can happen.

However, it’s very simple to avoid this from becoming a problem. My top tip is that you check the times before you leave the house (or the night before) so you are always aware. Personally, I downloaded the free National Rail app on my phone. It’s an incredibly useful way of always being able to check whether your train is on time or delayed which keeps you one step ahead!

2.    Invest in a Season Ticket Rail Card

When I was commuting in my first year, the season ticket rail card was an absolute must. It is the best ticket to buy if you are travelling to University for 3 or more days per week. The brilliant thing about them is that they can be used for return journeys, which allows you to get on any train at any time. Plus, you will be saving a fortune, which is the holy grail for any student at Uni!

3.    Work and Travel

Something I absolutely miss about commuting on the train is that you can utilize your journey to get work done. As I have said before, studying law means quite a substantial amount of reading therefore you can use commuting to your advantage!

I hope these few pointers have helped anyone thinking about commuting by train. If you have any questions or want to find out more, please feel free to comment in the box below.

Have a great start to February everyone !!

Zara 🙂

P.S: The next post will be all about what its like to commute by car, so do keep an eye out!