I just wondered, as I seem to remember an off-peak half single from London
to Dover costing a lot of money back in 2001. On top of the large cost, I
had to change at Chatham, and the train split in two at Faversham. The
trains were all very old and slam-door.

Now it seems that for about a quarter of what I paid then, I can get a
single for 45-odd miles from Ayr to Glasgow, in under an hour, without
changing trains, and on a lovely, nice, new (but a bit dodgy) Alstom
Juniper for £5.30.

How to train fares there mount up? PS: A peak return from Ayr to Glasgow is
considerably more at £9.10

London Terminals (actually Victoria) to Dover Priory:

CDS £12.90 / £20.70 (Don't ask me why there are two fares - I think
the cheaper one is TO London and the dearer one FROM)
SDS £21.20
FDS £31.80

CDR £20.80
SDR £21.40
NAB £23.40
SVR £28.10
SOR £42.40
FOR £63.60