Passengers are more likely to take the train for leisure travel
while commuters would rather take the train midweek are the key
takeaways from a new research report published today (9 April) by
the Department for Transport.
The railway connects communities across the country, moving
people to get to work, education, healthcare and leisure. It
provides vital infrastructure essential for delivering growth,
providing opportunity and raising living standards as part of the
Plan for Change.
The Government is undertaking a once in a generation overhaul of
the rail network, bringing train operating companies into public
ownership and setting up Great British Railways (GBR), bringing
track and train together to put passengers first.
In order to better understand how passengers use the railway and
deliver a network that works for their needs, the Department for
Transport did an investigation into the reasons passengers take
the train. The report found that:
- 54% respondents said they were travelling for leisure
- 30% were commuting for work or education
- 15% were travelling for business
- 61% said they travelled by rail for leisure at least once a
month
- 41% said they used the railway for commuting at least once a
week, with Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday being the most popular
days
This shows a return to midweek office working, demonstrating how
essential the railway is for connecting people to get to work,
providing a path for opportunity and catalysing economic growth.
Rail Minister Lord said:
“Our railway is the backbone of our economy, connecting people
across the country and fuelling business, growth and opportunity,
supporting the Plan for Change.
“This research shows thousands of passengers choose the train for
their leisure travel. To go and see family and friends, go on
holiday or go to big events whether its concerts, festivals or a
football match, the train is the best way to get there.”
Resetting industrial relations has meant there have been no
national strikes since 9 May 2024, which has protected passengers
from significant disruption and delays, avoiding further impacts
to the hospitality industry and wider economy. This has meant the
network has been able to start getting its financial footing
back, with green shoots appearing in rail revenue with an
increase of 8% from the latest quarter (October to December 2024)
compared to the same quarter in 2023. Public ownership will turn
the page on fragmentation and mean every penny can be spent for
the benefit of passengers rather than private shareholders.
A key barrier to more people taking the train is still a lack of
consistency in reliable services as delays and cancellations mean
people miss days of work, hospital appointments or social events.
The latest passenger data shows cancellations in the latest
quarter (October to December 2024) was 5.1%, with 70,000 fully
cancelled trains across the network.
The Government is determined to drive up performance, and the
Rail Minister is meeting with all train operators to address
concerns and demand immediate action. On top of this, last month
the Transport Secretary announced a new era of rail
accountability, making performance information available at over
1,700 stations showing the punctuality and reliability of trains
visiting those stations.
This year's Rail Sale was the biggest one yet, encouraging more
people to take the train with over a million tickets sold and top
destinations including Manchester, York and London Bridge. Great
British Railways will have a relentless focus on putting
passengers at the centre of every journey, encouraging more
people to take the train by improving standards and driving up
performance.
