'Homesick students' heading for home, say train companies
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Loading... - EUGENIE JOLIE
- 14 Oct 2020
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Freshers Week might only just have finished in some cases, but it seems that young people across the country are not ready to settle just yet - especially as the Freshers' blues start to kick-in.
Analysis of rail journeys by the Association of Train Operating Companies (Atoc), reveals that this week - and October 13 in particular - will witness a spike in travel by 16-25 Railcard holders.
In fact, of the 1.7 million journeys made across the rail network during the third week in October last year, some 337,000 were made on 16-25 Railcards, representing a 28 per cent increase on the average number of journeys made throughout the year by 16-25 Railcard holders.
According to Atoc, the increase is second only to the Christmas period.
Going to university can be a " daunting experience" Photo: Alamy
The figures also reveal the top five cities based on an increase in 16-25 Railcard use over this week.
Exeter takes the top spot, with a 65 per cent increase in young person travel, while Durham and Liverpool also feature highly, increasing by 61 per cent and 52 per cent respectively.
Andrew Robertson, from 16-25 Railcard, puts the increase down to komesick students saying that going to university can be a " daunting experience" for young adults.
"Our research indicates that, for many, the reality of living away from parents can really kick in after just a few weeks," he said.
According to Mr Robertson, "running low on cash" and "missing home-cooked meals" could be one of the reasons for the "clear spike".
A separate study last year found that half of students "run out of money " before their next loan" , while a similar survey in 2012 found that one in six had spent an entire term’s student loan within the first month of university.
