This won't come as much of a surprise to the thousands of people who use Southern Railway in the south east. They've endured a summer of hell with strikes, cancellations and delays due to an industrial dispute.
@SouthernRailUK How can u canx this train but before and after on time? You're a joke! #uktrains #southernfail pic.twitter.com/7HN6TdmVG0
— Barry Stokes (@bstokes1977) August 24, 2016
#Traingate
With Britain's 24 million commuters in mind, report "Health in a Hurry" by the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH), suggests the stress of train delays and traffic jams is detrimental to your health.
Whatever the truth of #traingate let it not distract us from the absolute fact that rail travel in this country is a disgrace #southernfail
— Matthew Coy (@Matthewcoy) August 24, 2016
The average commuter eats an extra 767 calories a week on daily snacks.
#FitFam #goals on the #commute home! Any other suggestions for #healthy #commuting #snacks? #getfitfam pic.twitter.com/NbfFIshNa9
— Lindsey Ostrosser (@OLindseyO) July 12, 2016
In Scotland, rail passengers have endured copious strikes due to industrial action threatened on the East Coast Mainline. In London, 155,000 commuters are forced to stand up in morning rush hour trains.
Commuting is even considered by the RSPH, to shorten your life.
"Longer commuted are potentially shortening lives," a spokesperson for the RSPH said.
girl on the train. #london #tube @tfl #commute pic.twitter.com/Tj0ws1wwNb
— Tim Wheatley (@TimothyWheatley) May 10, 2016
"Longer commute times are associated with increased stress, higher blood pressure and BMI, and reduce time available for health promoting activities such as cooking, exercising and sleeping."
A poll for the organization found that 44 percent of commuters had less time with family and friends, 41 percent were getting less exercise and one in three were losing sleep.
Overcrowding and anti-social behavior are cited as the most infuriating and stressful part of a daily commute by 1,500 people polled; with one in three turning to snacks for comfort.
London commuters need to learn some manners. All this pushing and shoving is embarrassing😡 #london #tube #commute
— Michael Hickson (@hicksonite) June 16, 2016
The RSPH is calling on employers to help by allowing more people to work from home or avoid the rush hour.
"For some of us the daily commute can be a pleasurable experience, giving time for reflection or an opportunity to relax but for an increasing number of us it is having a damaging effect on our health and well-being," Shirley Cramer, RSPH chief executive said.
@R_S_P_H Well, it wasn't this morning, but recently I had to park myself in the baggage rack. #unhealthycommute pic.twitter.com/g51xkr0qbR
— Helen Gordon (@MrsHGordon) August 24, 2016
"As the length of our commute increases this impact is getting worse, including by contributing to rising levels of stress, adding to our waistlines, or eating into time we could otherwise spend doing activities which enhance our health and well-being such as sleep, exercise or time spent with family and friends." Cramer said.
