Train travel in Great Britain has reached unprecedented levels, with passenger numbers hitting their highest point in over a century. New data from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) reveals that 1.83 billion journeys were undertaken across England, Scotland, and Wales between April 2025 and March 2026. This figure marks a six per cent increase from the previous year's 1.73 billion journeys and surpasses the pre-pandemic peak of 1.75 billion recorded between April 2018 and March 2019. The ORR attributes this substantial rise, in part, to significant infrastructure developments, particularly the Elizabeth line.
The Elizabeth line has played a pivotal role in this resurgence, accounting for 257.4 million passenger journeys within the same period. Its central section stations have emerged as some of the busiest since the line's opening in 2022, underscoring the impact of new transport links on passenger behaviour. Darren Caplan, chief executive of the Railway Industry Association, noted that current passenger numbers are approximately 110 per cent of pre-Covid levels when including the Elizabeth line, and 100 per cent without it, suggesting a clear need for future capacity expansion.
Despite this boom in popularity, the rail network is grappling with a significant decline in punctuality. Over the last year, only two-thirds (66.7 per cent) of trains across Britain arrived within one minute of their scheduled time. This represents the poorest punctuality performance since the 2019-2020 period, prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, when 64.97 per cent of trains were on time. The ORR had previously urged train operators to prioritise improving timeliness, a call that appears to have gone unheeded amidst the surge in passenger traffic.
While overall journey numbers have climbed, the landscape of rail travel has shifted. Season ticket journeys, though up four per cent year-on-year to 234 million, remain considerably below the pre-pandemic figure of 588 million. This suggests a change in commuting patterns and a greater reliance on flexible ticketing options. Graham Richards, the ORR’s director of planning and performance, highlighted this shift, stating that while the Elizabeth line has been a massive boost, there is a fundamental change in how and when the rail network is used.
The challenge for the rail industry now lies in balancing this growing demand with the imperative to deliver reliable services. As more people choose to travel by train, the pressure to enhance punctuality and overall operational efficiency will intensify. The ORR's emphasis on a 'relentless focus' on reliability underscores the critical need for operators to address these service issues to maintain passenger confidence and support the continued growth of the network.
Source: Office of Rail and Road (ORR)