50% of Long-Distance Relationships End in a Year

Research has revealed that romance has not blossomed for many Brits who have been in a long-distance relationship.

Ahead of Valentine’s Day, research from Trainline showed that over 50% of Brits in a long-distance relationship said their romances lasted less than a year.

More than 20 million people have tried this but the biggest deal-breakers are travel costs, emotional strain and the effort of planning trips.

One in three said their long-distance relationship ended within six months.

Of the singles surveyed, 43% said they were unlikely to consider a long-distance relationship, with women being more reluctant than men.

However, Gen Z (54%) and those aged 25-34 (62%) are most open to the idea compared to 20% of over-65s.

Fortunately, Trainline and relationship expert Dr Linda Papadopoulos have collaborated to help those in long-distance relationships.

The tips include:

• Prioritise visits and plan ahead: Planning trips ahead is great for many reasons – from something to be eager for, to showing connection and commitment. It can also mean savings.
• Communicate: Involve each other in your lives, even from a distance by setting aside dedicated time for calls for daily updates – and make sure to use positive reinforcement during conversations to remind your partner of their importance.
• Make reunions special: Plan activities for when you’re together, like taking the train to explore new destinations or revisiting places that hold sentimental value. Small gestures, like a surprise handwritten note or a playlist to listen to on the train, can amplify the joy of reuniting.
• Set realistic expectations: Be honest about how often you can visit and focus on quality over quantity.
• Celebrate other forms of love: Dedicate time to friends and family when you can’t be with your partner – strengthening these connections provides emotional resilience, which helps sustain romantic relationships.
• Gratitude and positivity: Keep a shared gratitude journal where you and your partner write what you appreciate about each other and your relationship.
• Leverage technology to bridge the gap: Use video calls to recreate experiences like cooking or watching a movie together. Share updates via apps or virtual albums to stay connected to each other’s daily lives.
• Make travel part of the fun: Use the time spent on the train as an opportunity to reconnect through shared conversations and plans for the future.

Dr Linda Papadopoulos, psychologist and broadcaster, said:

“Long-distance relationships can bring both joys and challenges, but with the right mindset, they don’t have to go off the rails.

“Planning ahead on travel to save money and hassle, setting aside dedicated communication time and making those reunions extra special is key to keeping the connection alive – and travelling by train is a fantastic way to make those journeys as pain-free as possible.

“Trainline’s tools can help reduce planning stresses so you can focus on what really matters — each other.

“Love isn’t just about proximity; it’s about effort, intention and making the moments together count – so don’t let the distance derail something special.”

Sakshi Anand, GM UK at Trainline, said:

“It’s heartbreaking to hear so many people are letting the cost and effort of planning travel get in the way of true love.”

“With the Trainline app, there are multiple ways to save on train tickets and take the stress out of booking your trips.

“Planning ahead and booking early is our main advice, which in combination with our other features such as SplitSave and Ticket Alerts, can make a huge difference to the cost of your travel.

“And this advice doesn’t just apply to those travelling for romantic reasons: whether you are visiting family, catching up with friends or celebrating the people who matter most to you, we’re here to help make that distance and cost feel a little smaller.”