Travelling by car during peak periods is almost 13 TIMES cheaper than taking the train

TRAVELLING by car during peak periods is 13 times cheaper than taking the train, according to a recent study.

Drivers can save more than £300 by jumping behind the wheel on some popular journeys around the UK.

A Daily Mail investigation compared how much it costs to travel via train and car on 20 different routes.

The study gathered petrol prices for each journey when a driver was travelling in a Ford Fiesta.

They were then compared with the costs of a pre-booked train ticket, leaving at 8am and returning at a similar time the next day.

And in all of the cases, taking a car was a cheaper option during peak hours than jumping on the train.

Train tickets for a return trip to Luton to Cambridge cost £84.60, while petrol for the same journey is only £6.40.

Drivers would only have to spend £40 on petrol when travelling from York to Bath, compared to £344.70 for a return train ticket.

Although it’s much cheaper to go by car, the study didn’t account for vehicle insurance, road tax and the cost of parking while on these routes.

Train travel is also a lot quicker than driving and better for the environment, as fewer cars on the road means lower pollution levels.

Guy Anker, of consumer website Moneysavingexpert.com, said: “Rail prices can be an absolute rip-off compared to other modes of transport such as driving and even flying.

“Even if you use every trick in the book the chances are driving will be cheaper, especially if there are a few of you.”