By ROBERT FOLKER, NEWS REPORTER Published: 17:33 BST, 25 September 2025 | Updated: 17:34 BST, 25 September 2025
A woman who commutes 100 miles to work, taking six trains and spending £450-a-month, says it's all worth it for her London wage.Alix Williams' previous job in the charity sector was put up for redundancy last April due to Birmingham City Council's well-documented debts.The 27-year-old still wanted to work as an adviser on discrimination and sexual harassment but was struggling to find anything close to home, with enough pay.With a £940 mortgage to pay between her and her partner, Alix widened her search and applied for a role in London, just the 100 miles away.Despite the long commute, she decided to go for it as the salary was 46 per cent higher than her previous role.Three days a week, Alix wakes up early enough to get an off-peak 5.50am train to London Euston from her local station near BirminghamShe then takes two tubes to her work in South Kensington, taking her two hours and twenty minutes.Her return train leaves at 6.40pm and she arrives home at 8.30pm, having spent £35 for the return ticket. She spends in the region of £400 to £450 a month on rail travel. Alix Williams' previous job in the charity sector was put up for redundancy last April due to Birmingham City Council's well-documented debts. The 27-year-old now commutes 100 miles to work in LondonBut Alix is still left with 32 per cent more per month after the train costs.Alix, who does not want to reveal her salary as a specialist adviser for discrimination and sexual harassment, said: 'I did the costs and it was still better. It's a 46 per cent increase.'Once I'd taken away costs for travel it was still considerably more.'It's a big sacrifice of your time - but it's what's important to you and in your phase of life.'I'm a young professional who enjoys holidays and travelling. It makes sense for what I want.'She started her new role in November 2024 and says she has found the commute manageable so far.She said: 'It was rare to find a job with my skillset in a corporate setting.'I thought what have you got to lose. It was a great step up.'I spent a week really researching all the train costs and considering the physical effects on me.'To save as much as she can on commuting Alix buys her train tickets two months in advance. To save as much as she can on commuting Alix buys her train tickets two months in advance meaning she can spent her earnings on things like holidays and travellingShe takes the 5.50am direct one hour and 35 minute train to Euston before taking two tubes to her office.The trains after this time shoot up in price to £60 to £80.Alix said: 'I can't afford to do that. The 5.50am is still classed as off-peak.'I roll out of bed. I wake up 12 minutes before I need to leave the house.'I do my skincare on the train and try and sleep.'She is often in the office by 8.20am and stays until 4.30pm before heading to the gym or grabbing a takeaway dinner before her train home at 6.40pm.On her journey home, Alix says she will read a book, watch a show or eat a pre-packed dinner.Alix said: 'Because I never used to do anything in the morning before work I don't feel I've lost any time there.'In the weekday evenings I wouldn't do much anyway. I'm still busy at weekends.'I find it quite exciting being in London. This is a place where people save up to come and visit.'Alix also feels the commute is worth the effort as the role will 'open doors' for her future career.'I don't have any plans to leave. But I don't think it's sustainable for years,' Alix said.
