SPONSORED EDITORIAL

A coach company official says commuters travelling from the north of Kent to London can save over £1,000 every year if they make the switch from trains to coaches.

With rail fares having climbed by an average of 3.1 per cent since last year and intercity travel for some people now standing at over £1 a mile, more people are now seeking cheaper means of transport to and from London.

One of the most attractive alternatives today for many commuters living outside of London who make daily trips into the capital are coaches.

The cost difference is the biggest eye-catcher for most.

A commuter would need to cough up £3,256 for an annual train ticket from Gravesend to Canary Wharf (with one change) but those with an annual ticket from Clarkes of London will pay only £2,589 for the same journey direct.

The price gap is even bigger for commuters travelling from Strood to Canary Wharf.

An annual rail ticket would set them back £4,100 while the same journey using Clarkes of London would only cost £2,915.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE TICKETING OPTIONS AT CLARKES OF LONDON

“Using the coach to commute instead of a train can save you over £1,000 every year,” said Sarah Hackett, Commuter Manager at Clarkes of London.

“Not only that, you avoid being squeezed into a stuffy train and instead sit back in comfortable reclining seats where your seat is guaranteed in an air-conditioned coach with free Wi-Fi.

“We also have flexible ticketing options to give our customers the freedom to travel whenever they want.”

Over 100 local pick up locations from the Medway and Gravesend areas are currently available for commuters with an offer of 20% off for first ticket purchases with the London-based company.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE ROUTE AND TIMES FOR MEDWAY, NEW ASH GREEN AND VIGO

Clarkes of London commuters can also join the Clarkes Commuter Loyalty Club and receive special discounts at local venues, stores and services from designer shops to fitness classes.

Commuters should also not be swayed by travel time, according to Sarah, who says trains are not guaranteed to get you to your destination on time.

“There is a preconception among some people that the journey time will be a lot more when compared to the rail services”, she added

“For example, if one of our coaches and a train both left Gravesend at exactly the same time, they will both arrive at Canary Wharf in around an hour.

“While it is true that trains can sometimes get commuters to their various destinations quicker than a coach, they - as well all know - are not without delays and cancellations.

“We, on the other hand, are reliable, cheaper and more efficient. Coaches can also avoid heavy traffic in most cases because of the designated bus lanes.”

Clarkes of London has been providing transport for the local communities of London and beyond since 1958.

For more information about Clarkes of London, click here.