Public transport is hell. Not worth the effort just for a 30 minute punt.
I don't think that anyone would go for just half an hour!
Its bloody good now on the Siemens Class 700 electrics, used one around a year ago they let you use the first class seats for free the ones that go through to Brighton got a wider choice of where to get off in London.
Had some good trips to the old smoke years ago coming back one night had a ladyfriend who was well endowed!, that got me a cab ride on a Class 37 diesel and more then once we had a ride home on the late mail paper train and that was fun bonking on piles of papers LO
Good old days indeed:)