Check out our Spotify playlists  

Take a listen to our playlists curated by music psychologist, Dr Michael Bonshor, designed to help you make the most of your train journey and discover the health and wellbeing benefits of listening to different types of music on your commute by train. Plus, we’ve got commuters’ top 30 tracks, as voted for by the British public!  

Top of the Tracks 

The nation's top 30 tunes for your commute to work by train, as voted for by the British public!     

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Mood Lifting Music  

Our research reveals that 1 in 3 commuters admit to relying on listening to music on their commute to wake them up, with a further 30% turning to tunes to get them ready for the day ahead and improve their mental health. According to Dr Bonshor, mood-lifting or ‘happy’ music is also great for helping to boost your productivity and get in the zone. It usually has a relatively fast tempo of between 92 and 196 BPM, with a steady rhythm of 2 or 4 beats in every bar. Tune into this mood-boosting playlist to get you in a positive state of mind for the working day ahead.  

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Pumping-Up Power Tracks 

Music not only plays an important role in gearing the nation up for the day ahead, but it also helps us face any challenges that might come our way in the workplace. Our research reveals that pop (45%) and rock (31%) are the top genres that people tune into to psych themselves up for a presentation, while hip hop (18%) and R&B (16%) are go-to's when people need to motivate themselves for a challenging situation at work. According to Dr Bonshor, motivational music is great for boosting productivity and determination. It is typically upbeat and high-energy, with strong rhythms and a fast tempo of at least 120 BPM. Let these power tracks fill you with motivation and confidence for your working day.  

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Wind Down Window 

Listening to a variety of music on your train commute can help prepare you for the day ahead, enhance your mood, or provide relaxation after a long day. According to Dr Bonshor, relaxing music on your journey home is great for helping you switch off and unwind after a busy workday. It features a slow, constant tempo, with approximately 60 to 80 beats per minute. Accompanied by a small number of instruments, usually with a mellow or soft sound, there are gently flowing melodies, with a limited range of pitch and volume. Sit back and unwind at the end of a working day with these calming tacks.   

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Music for Moving on Out 

According to Dr Bonshor, energetic music that blends the key elements of uplifting music with a faster, brighter twist is great for helping people feel re-energised after a busy day at work. With tempos ranging from 120 to 180 beats per minute they are as energetic as they are danceable. The lyrics will be repetitive and catchy, with fun themes throughout. Turn up the feel-good vibes and make the most of your free time after work with this re-energising playlist.  

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