Commuting by rail is healthier than driving and can cut risk of an early death by 10%

Taking the train to work rather than driving cuts the risk of an early death by 10 per cent, research reveals.

A 25-year study of more than 300,000 commuters found giving up the car also cuts the risk of heart disease and cancer.

The researchers from Cambridge University and Imperial College London also unsurprisingly found walking and cycling cut the risk of illness and early death.

The academics, whose findings are published in the Lancet Planetary Health journal, said the benefits to rail users are likely because they walk to and from the station at each end of their journey.

The researchers, who studied census data gathered between 1991 and 2016, found rail commuters had a 10 per cent reduced rate of early death, a 20 per cent reduced rate of death from cardiovascular disease and a 12 per cent reduced rate of cancer diagnosis, compared with drivers.

Cyclists had a 20 per cent reduced rate of early death, 24 per cent reduced rate of death from cardiovascular disease and an 11 per cent reduced rate of cancer diagnosis.

The benefits of walking were less clear cut – walking to work was associated with a 7 per cent reduced rate in cancer diagnosis, but there was no statistically significant cut in deaths.

The researchers believe this is because those walking to work tend to be less affluent than drivers and more likely to have underlying health conditions, but if a driver were to switch to walking then their health would benefit.

However rail commuters are likely to currently be concerned about the risk of catching coronavirus on trains. 

Dr Richard Patterson from the University of Cambridge, who led the research, said: ‘As large numbers of people begin to return to work as the Covid-19 lockdown eases, it is a good time for everyone to rethink their transport choices.

‘With severe and prolonged limits in public transport capacity likely, switching to private car use would be disastrous for our health and the environment. 

‘Encouraging more people to walk and cycle will help limit the longer-term consequences of the pandemic.’

The data for the study revealed 66 per cent of people drove to work, 19 per cent used public transport, 12 per cent walked and 3 per cent cycled. 

Men were more likely than women to drive or cycle.

Dr Anthony Laverty, senior author from Imperial College London, said: ‘It’s great to see that the Government is providing additional investment to encourage more walking and cycling during the post-lockdown period.

‘While not everyone is able to walk or cycle to work, the Government can support people to ensure that beneficial shifts in travel behaviour are sustained in the longer term.’