It now costs more to commute by train than by car in the UK

Problems at London Euston went viral on social media several times this week, challenging the idea that we should let the train take the strain. Now the assumption that public transport is cheaper than driving is also being called into question for the UK’s commuters. With rail fares increasing by 4.9 percent from the beginning of March, Good Travel Management has look into the cost of commuting into the UK’s major cities to find out how much it’s really costing people to get to work.

According to the report, on average, it costs Brits £421.42 to commute to work via car each month, including a coffee, lunch, the cost of petrol and all-day parking. By comparison, rail commuters can expect to pay £91.30 more each month, averaging £512.72 per month on commuting costs, including the price of a train return ticket and two inner-city buses, on top of the cost of coffee and lunch. That’s the equivalent of almost a quarter of the average worker’s salary (£34,900 pre-tax) spent on getting to work via public transport.

Unsurprisingly, London is the city with the most expensive commute, with workers paying £656.40 per month on average to drive to the office. A big portion of this steep cost comes from London’s expensive parking tariffs at an average cost of £15 per day, the highest of anywhere in the UK. London workers also pay the most for petrol, costing on average £4.08 per day, as well as having the most expensive cup of coffee (£3.56) and lunch (£10.18).

While these costs may be higher than those in other parts of the UK, they still represent a favourable option when compared to the expenses incurred by commuters who rely on public transport. Train commuters can anticipate monthly expenditures of £821.40, marking a £165 increase compared to the costs borne by drivers.

However, Bristol workers are found to get the worst deal on their commuting costs, taking second place as the city with the most expensive commute via public transport at £718.40 per month. This is thanks to Bristol’s substantial train ticket costs, averaging £20.20 per day for commuters in nearby commuter towns.

However, those that drive to work spend just £464 per month on average, a saving of £254.40. Bristolians may have the second-highest price for fuel in the UK (£2.48 per day on average), but cheaper parking helps to bring down the cost, at just £6 for all day parking. Brighton and Hove (£574.60), Manchester (£573) and Belfast (£561.80) complete the top three cities with the most expensive public transport commutes.