Surge in people using the train ‘to find work’

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There has been a surge in the number of people travelling outside their hometown to find work, according to new figures published by the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC), which show that train journeys made by jobseekers have more than doubled in some parts of the country since the start of the recession.

The figures show that the number of journeys made by train using discounts offered to people looking for work, has risen by 37% in the last two years.

ATOC says that this shows that people are increasingly turning to the railways to look farther afield for work.

Train companies offer a discount card which is issued by Jobcentre Plus to eligible jobseekers, to help them travel more cheaply to job interviews and for vocational training.

The card offers a 50% discount on a wide variety of fares, including London Travelcards.

The data also shows which towns and cities have seen the biggest increases in numbers of rail journeys made by jobseekers using the railcard from 2009 to 2010, as the country began to come out of the recession.

The biggest rises include:

  • Rhyl, Wales – a rise of 263%
  • Biggleswade, Bedfordshire – a rise of 228%
  • Liphook, Hampshire – a rise of 202%
  • Southport, Merseyside – a rise of 184%
  • Tilbury Town, Essex – a rise of 181%
  • Ely, Cambridgeshire – a rise of 147%
  • Brighton, East Sussex – a rise of 122%
  • Guildford, Surrey – a rise of 121%
  • Hayes & Harlington, London – a rise of 102%

Research carried out in 2010 on behalf of ATOC found that the savings the discount card offers has led to more people travelling by train.

More than four out of five respondents who had not travelled by rail for the previous six months now regularly took the train, with 36% saying that they would not have travelled to a job interview at all had they not had the card, and a further 16% said they would not have travelled to their vocational training.

David Mapp, ATOC’s Commercial Director, said:

“These figures are an insight to the way the job market is changing. People are no longer looking for jobs in the local area, but are travelling farther afield and going the extra mile to find work.

“Train companies recognise that times are tough for many people, but particularly for those not in regular work. The discount we offer to active jobseekers means they can get cheap tickets to travel to job interviews, visit the jobcentre, and attend vocational training.

“Fast, reliable and affordable rail services are vital to get people around for work and for leisure. The use of these discount cards shows the key role the railways have in helping the economic recovery, and also the social benefits it offers.”

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