Take the train

it’s better for your blood pressure?

Want a calmer less stressful journey? If so research dictates that in that case you shouldn’t go by car! With a serious lack of leg room, the children screaming in the back, the food supplies dried out, the tin can is likely to be the site of another family row. Equating to thousands of arguments each week the research has shown that over a third of families opt to take the car even in light of the above points.

All of us pack a wealth of things for the journeys, be it the magazines, enough food to last a week, some even take the kitchen sink, yet it seems one essential cannot be found in a bag. Entertainment it seems cannot be packed with 49% of families admit to enjoying playing classic games such as ‘i spy’ when travelling. 73% of parents remember playing the game when they were children and have in turn carried on the tradition to play it with their children.

Regionally Northampton and Cardiff respondents make sure they don’t leave home without a pack of cards, ready to play solitaire or a good round of gin rummy! In contrast many opt for the modern day technology offered by Nintendo DS’s and Wolverhampton and Edinburgh prefer a game of Cluedo or Snakes and Ladders.

The least popular option for families was the coach, partly because of the lack of space and as well as inevitable increased journey times. With 88% of families (equating to x million in the UK) opting for the easier option offered by a train where refreshments, space and flexibility are in abundance it’s not surprise ticket sales are already on the up. Virgin Trains has seen an 18% increase in like-for-like sales compared to this time last year. With the trend for cheaper, cost effective travel and ‘staycations’ likely to stay for the next year at least, even more of us are likely to flock to the trains, so make sure you book early to avoid having to take the car and incur the inevitable argument.

Additional findings revealed:

• The bus was voted the second most stressful mode of transport by respondents in Carlisle, Bristol and Glasgow
• Men and women agreed that cars were most stressful mode of transport but were split on the second place, men voted for plane and women for the bus.
• Lack of food and beverages, difficulties keeping children entertained and the traffic were among the top problems associated with bus and car travel
• Children in Coventry were happiest to keep themselves entertained by playing on their electronic games such as Nintendo DS’s the polar opposite to the majority of those questions who prefer visual games 

1072 parents were questioned by independent research agency, Opinion Matters.