A new study highlights growing frustration among Brits with train travel, revealing common complaints like delays, overcrowding, loud music, and unclear announcements.
Comedian Joe Thomas teamed up with Tempcover to create a comedy sketch humorously tackling these issues, featuring relatable scenarios like missing a train and facing dreaded replacement buses or constant delays.
The research highlighted the steep prices of train journeys, with the average fare nearing £110. Yet despite the hefty costs, eight in ten travellers report having to stand for more than half an hour due to overcrowding, pointing fingers at train operators for overbooking.
Moreover, one in five travellers regularly face delays or cancellations, with 10% experiencing hold-ups of over four hours. The main reasons for these disruptions were signal failures, engineering works, and adverse weather conditions.
For those unfortunate passengers dealing with cancelled trains, the wait for a rail replacement bus service was found to be an average of 41 minutes, with a fifth of travellers admitting they have waited for an hour or more.
Joe Thomas shared his thoughts on the skit, adding: “It was a good laugh to create this little comedy skit, I use the trains all the time – when they’re good they’re great and when they’re bad, they’re rubbish.”
Marc Pell, managing director of Tempcover, which sponsored the study, commented: “Joe’s video brilliantly captures the very real frustrations many endure with UK train travel, using comedy as the vehicle to do so. Over a four-day Easter holiday, no-one wants their plans derailed.”
The report reveals that these delays and cancellations have had a significant impact on many people, ruining their plans.
Due to these persistent problems, over half of those surveyed said they would rather drive than take the train. The main reasons include being able to travel directly to their destination, having personal space, and increased reliability.
Marc added: “This Easter, car sharing is another way to visit friends and family. This is where temporary car insurance can really help. Just borrow a car, get insured in minutes and you can travel on your own terms whenever you want – evening or day, on or off-peak.”
