London, Nov 11 Network Rail Staff has been asked to use a coach to go to a conference, as travelling by train is too expensive.

A rail executive said ferrying 200 employees from Reading to Coventry by train was too dear and would cost an "untenable" 27, 000 pounds.

Even a second-class open return for the 90-mile trip would be nothing less than 146pounds.

So the employees will now take buses from their Berkshire HQ next Friday.

"If we all book our own travel and most of us use trains, it'll cost 27,000 pounds on travel alone," the Sun quoted the memo written by the senior executive, as saying.

He added that they would rather get "spacious" buses costing 12pounds per head, which would mean a total expenditure of around 2,400pounds.

The news follows Britain's first 1,000pounds train fare on a first-class ticket from Cornwall to the Highlands.

"We use rail for the overwhelming number of journeys but occasionally, if there is a cheaper alternative we will use that," a spokesman said. (ANI)