Commuters in Devon could save £740 a year by mixing up their commute

As fuel costs and inflation in Britain continue to rise, research has found that commuters could save £740 a year by simply mixing up their commute and switching from bus to train on two days of the week.

The research, from Britain’s biggest bus provider, Stagecoach, analysed the average price increases across several forms of transport. It found that fuel prices had increased by ten times more than the average bus fare over the last six years – the largest increase of any form of transport.

• Bus 4.6% (£2.32 - £2.42)
• Train 18% (£5.34 - £6.30)
• Car 30% (£1.14 - £1.68)

Commuters in the West Country, including Devon, could stand to make the second-highest saving in the UK by simply switching their train journey for the bus two days a week – a saving amounts to £740 saved over the course of a year. The full top five areas to save in the UK are as follows:

1. Midlands - £813 

2. West Country (inc. Devon, Cornwall, Bristol) - £740 

3. London - £715 

4. Wessex - £296 

5. Kent - £169 

It’s not just switching the train for the bus where savings can be made. With everyone very aware of the constantly spiralling costs at the petrol pumps, being mindful of the alternative options when it comes to dropping the car could be an ideal way to make a saving. In fact, travellers could save an average of £505.72 a year if they were to mix up their commute and switch their diesel car for the bus just two days a week, with petrol car owners potentially saving £350.20 annually. 

Statistics show fuel prices at an all-time high, with petrol prices increasing by 48p/litre, equating to a 42% rise, and diesel up by 57p/litre, a 48% increase, since 2015. With the price rises showing no sign of slowing down, making this change could be a vital way to save money.

The financial savings aren’t the only positive of switching to the bus, the research also found mixing up your commute two days a week could have a substantial positive impact on the environment. Swapping your car for the bus for two journeys a week can save more than 900kg of CO2 emissions in a year, with train users saving over 1,500kg of CO2.

With everyone keeping a keen eye on their finances, Stagecoach is encouraging everyone to plan their journey before they set off, to help ensure they’re finding the most cost-effective and efficient way of travelling. Their journey planner tool has been created to provide a simple and easy, online method of journey planning.