Revealed: Londoners’ daily commute is 23 minutes longer than the UK average
Londoners' daily commute takes 23 minutes longer than the UK average at one hour and 21 minutes, TUC trade union analysis has shown.
The joint runners up for the longest commute to and from work are the east of England and south east, where the journey into work takes 62 minutes. Workers in Northern Ireland, on the other hand, enjoy a comparatively leisurely 46-minute journey.
New statistics from the TUC show the average daily commute now takes five minutes longer than it did a decade ago.
The average daily commute last year was 58 minutes each way. Rail commuters face the longest journeys, with the daily grind shaving off two hours and 11 minutes each day – an increase of four minutes since 2007.
Those who brave the roads to get work spend an average of 52 minutes travelling to work and back – a three minute increase on the last decade – while those using the bus take up to 79 minutes to reach work – an increase of seven minutes.
Cyclists and walkers have the speediest commute, with the former taking 44 minutes and the latter 29 minutes.
The TUC says the increase is down to poor government spending on transport infrastructure, a lack of flexible and home working and the depression of real wages again rising house prices, which makes it harder for people to live close to their workplace.
TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “It’s great we’re investing in high speed rail between some of our major cities. But people more often use their local buses and trains on their daily commute. These need to be upgraded too.
“Privatisation of trains and buses is a big failure. Journeys are too expensive, too slow and too unreliable. We should bring services back into public ownership. And cuts to public funding for bus routes should be reversed.
“Employers can make a difference too. Home working and flexitime can cut journeys and help avoid the rush hour. And if staff have fewer stressful journeys, they can focus better on their work.”