Survey: Driving Cheaper Than Trains

11 January 2016, 05:00 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

The rail journeys which offer the worst "value for money'' compared to driving have been revealed by a new study.

A return from London to Newcastle was found to have the biggest additional cost for train travel at £159.

This is followed by London to Edinburgh (£150) and London to Leeds (£133).

The research, revealed exclusively to the Press Association by Kwik Fit Insurance Services, also found that some journeys are not just more expensive by train but also slower.

They include Birmingham to Norwich (76 minutes), Glasgow to Leeds (54 minutes) and Glasgow to York (44 minutes).

But even when train travel does save time, some rail lines appear to offer worse value than others.

A return between Leeds and Cardiff was found to shave just 10 minutes off journey times despite costing an extra £72.

Train trips between the Welsh capital to London are just 22 minutes quicker than by road at an additional £67, while Glasgow to Aberdeen costs passengers an extra £33 to save only 12 minutes.

The research took into account the price of an off-peak return train ticket for popular journeys from London, Birmingham New Street, Glasgow Central and Leeds, as well as the average cost of fuel for a hatchback, saloon and 4x4 car.

Rail fares rose by an average of 1.1% at the start of the year.

Stewart Barnet of Kwik Fit Insurance Services said: "It is difficult to argue the case for train travel on some journeys.

"Though the price rise this year is one of the lowest in the last decade, this offers scant consolation to travellers who forked out huge amounts to get home over the holiday period and may continue to do so into 2016.

"When you think about car sharing and family trips, the savings can be even more substantial as people aren't paying out for a seat per person.''