ES News email The latest headlines in your inbox twice a day Monday - Friday plus breaking news updates Enter your email address Continue Please enter an email address Email address is invalid Fill out this field Email address is invalid You already have an account. Please log in Register with your social account or click here to log in I would like to receive lunchtime headlines Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts, by email Update newsletter preferences

The number of London commuters travelling two hours or more each day has risen by almost 20 per cent in the last five years, new research has found.

The study by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) found that over 900,000 London commuters travelled two hours or longer to get to work in 2015, an increase of 136,000 since 2010.

On average UK workers spent ten more hours commuting in 2015 than they did in 2010.

The TUC analysed unpublished data from the Office of National Statistics's Labour Force Survey from the past five years.

The survey interviews 90,000 people every three months about their working life, including their commute.

TUC analysis of the figures found that women have experienced the biggest rise in long journeys to work.

Thirty-five per cent more women commuted for two hours or longer in 2015 than in 2010, but men still account for the majority of those making long journeys.

Workers commuting by motorcycle have been the hardest hit with their journey times increasing on average by three minutes.

Travelling times for those using buses and London underground have fallen, however.

People commuting into London by rail have been hammered by ongoing strike action on Southern Rail services.

Hundreds of thousands of passengers have endured months of commuter hell since the Rail Maritime and Transport union (RMT) started striking in April over the role of conductors on Southern services.

A combination of staff shortages and, later, industrial action has caused serious disruption to trains, forcing Southern to introduce a reduced timetable in July.

TUC regional secretary for London Megan Dobney said: “None of us like spending ages getting to and from work. Long commutes eat into our family time and can be bad for our working lives too.

She added: “If we are to reduce the pain of traffic jams and train delays, ministers need to invest more in public transport and our roads.

“Next week’s Autumn Statement is the perfect opportunity to do this.”