New research published by Napier University’s Transport Research Institute highlights the productivity draining away from British business through time spent by employees in car travel. 

Millions of hours of staff time are wasted because employees travel by car rather than by train on business trips.

Commissioned by Virgin Trains, the research is the first of its kind to identify and compare the costs involved in travelling by train and car: both overt expenses and 'hidden' factors' normally overlooked by companies. In particular, it establishes a pioneering way of assessing the value of the time employees spend working during train journeys (which is lost time if they travel by car).

The findings show that the benefit from employee productivity can comfortably cancel out the cost of using the train. In real terms, on typical intercity journeys, car travel is 37% more expensive than that of the train.  In some cases, employers could be missing out on up to £144 on every journey if employees take the car.

For more information:

• Napier Press Release