Posted By Saracen11 Hi James, when I started as an apprentice many years ago, I left home at 5.45am to start at 8.30am, travelled by bus, finished at 4.30pm and got home around 6pm. I was fit for nothing afterwards... apart from sleep! That said, another job I had, took me 7 hours each way - it was a long time ago and the place was pretty remote! (I did reside on site...) Now, I leave for work 20 minutes before I start and am home in the same time after I finish. Guess I'm fortunate?! As for health effects; I can see how a person would become fatigued before starting at work. Regards

Posted By Pete48 James, Only if you personally find the journey stressful and the hours too much of a conflict with your lifestyle. Otherwise it looks like the sort of working day, door to door, that lots of us would love to have.

Posted By Alan Haynes As somebody who has just given up commuting every day to work [36 years - approx 1 million miles(by train) and 3 years of my life] I can happily state that I did not think that travelling was bad for my health, [mainly because I 'slept' on the train, and wasn't driving into London in the Rush Hour]. However, once I gave up travelling daily my general health improved, I sleep better and am more cheerful. So yes, there is an effect - you just don't realise it until you stop!

Posted By andymak I used to be on 12 hour shifts with up to two hours drive each way. After a night shift I used to struggle on the way home, especially in the dark with headlights coming towards me, it got kind of hypnotic! No long term health effects though unless you count being able to fully function on only about 28 hours sleep a week!

Posted By Stuart Nagle I leave the house just after 6am and don't get back in until 7pm either. Difference is I only travel 26.2 miles to work and 26.2 miles home again... Where ? The M25 and A2... where else... The most congested bit in road in Britain right now I'll wager with guess what... road works upon road works just to snarl things up a bit at a time of year when there are more cars on the road and its darker and the weathers worse... good old highways department planning eh!!! It's a bloody joke.... it would be funny it were not so flippin annoying for those of us who have no alternative but to use it... and just before anyone says use an alternative mode of transport... where I work there is not any alternative means without going into central London and then all the way back out again...

Posted By Merv Newman My office is about two miles away. I go there about once a fortnight. Most weeks I have 2 to 400 miles to drive to the client. And, of course, the same back. I get there the night before, sleep over and can start training or whatever at 7h00. Someties I do the night shift. I find that my knees tend to go a bit wobbly at about 3am. My previous employer brought in a guideline : 10 hours and/or 400 miles. (400 miles takes about 6 hours) So I can drive 3 hours, do a 2 to 4 hour meeting and drive 3 hours back. Anything more means a hotel night. We have the same rule in our present firm. Commuting is not zero time. It is stress time. You might be able to doze on the train but it is not stress free. When taking a new job and thus deciding on our future life style we should take that in to account. So they pay you a million or two per year. But how much family time do you get ? I'm preaching a bit here. But you need time to play with the kids. And do the bloody gardening. Merv

Posted By Arran Linton - Smith Been there with 05:30 to 19:30 commuting/working days. Fortunately 60% of my work is now based in an office 6miles away from home. My car is now left at home and I get on my bike. No fuel, no parking, no wear and tear no hold ups due to congestion, less stress and I am much fitter as a result of this. Previous cost of commuting approximately - £6600+, additional time at home £priceless!