COMMUTER Dr Michael McCabe is so fed up with the trials and tribulations of train travel in the South that he has come up with a bizarre way to beat his daily rail nightmare.

University lecturer Dr McCabe finds it better to make not one but two sea crossings and a cross-county cycle ride just to get to work each day.

He then makes the reverse trip home after clocking off at Portsmouth University.

Not only does he find his double-crossing more relaxing than the train trip, the sea journey is cheaper than going by rail and - incredibly - sometimes quicker.

Father-of-three Dr McCabe said his one-way 40-mile journey between work in Ports-mouth and home in Sway, near Lymington, could take up to four hours because of various problems including cancellations, delays and missed connections. Without problems it would take 90 minutes.

His journey is now 30 miles - cycling from home to Lymington, he catches the car ferry for a 30-minute trip to Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight.

He then cycles on his electric power-assisted bike some 20 miles to Fishbourne on the other end of the Island and boards another car ferry.

After a 35-minute crossing to Portsmouth, he departs and cycles to work.

Dr McCabe, 47, a lecturer in maths, astronomy and computing, said: "It is not always quicker to take the sea route but it is a lot more comfortable and relaxing. I know I will get a seat and can relax and enjoy a nice breakfast on the boats.

"The rail journey was so unreliable, and the trains themselves often crowded and draughty.

"Although the sea crossing and cycling usually takes longer, at least the ferries run regularly and my wife knows what time I will arrive home.

"I have freed myself from the enforced trauma of daily rail travel, the exercise does me good and it is also environmentally-friendly."

Dr McCabe, of Widden Close, said he did not need to make reservations on either ferry nor was there a charge for or difficulty in bringing his electric cycle on board.

The ability of his £700 Powabyke bicycle - brought from Brockenhust-based New Forest Cycle Experience - to kick into electric mode also helped ease his journey. The only time Dr McCabe reverts to South West Trains is when the weather conditions are too poor.

"Otherwise it is a much better way of making what was becoming an increasingly frustrating train journey," said Dr McCabe.

Dan Hornby, of Powabyke said Dr McCabe was not alone in looking to go off the rails. he said: "Sales are rising as regular rail passengers seek alternatives to travelling by train."

Dr McCabe travels on Wightlink ferries. Its head of marketing Janet Saville said the company looked forward to Dr McCabe's continued custom, adding: "The fact that he prefers to undertake his daily journey with us shows what a cost-effective, convenient and reliable service we run."

Dr McCabe's day return rail ticket would cost £9.90. His bicyle and ferry route set him back £8.80 a day.