Does the Indy think I REALLY want to head out to the airport, queue for security / passport control / baggage reclaim etc??!! Only the cr*ppy train service makes people do this!
I am looking at going to Newcastle on a Friday evening in 5 weeks time for around 5pm. Cheapest F ticket is £157 one-way (am coming back a different way), Y is £112. Easyjet is £46 inc taxes plus £8 for a StEx ticket via WorldPoints. For Mr Average, this is a bit of a no-brainer. And EasyJet's £46 includes the departure tax added by the Govt to keep up air prices!
As it happens, I am smart enough to book a 1st class to Peterborough (£49) and then a 1st class from Peterborough to Newcastle (£25). Total £74 instead of £157 for the same journey on the same train. But you need something close to a PhD in Maths to work this sort of stuff out by yourself!