Insight Articles: Our Blog
A series of articles analysing and commenting on the passenger transport scene.
Patronage hits new record in golden autumn for the railways
1923 total exceeded again after six years, but revenue yields still depressed
Growth in demand for rail travel took passenger numbers up by 6.3% to a new all-time record in the rolling year in 2025, according to National Rail Trends statistics published by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR). The previous record, set in 2019, stood at 1,780.9m – a figure now exceeded in two successive quarters, reaching 1,812.2m during the autumn.
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- By: Chris Cheek
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Branding – a suitable case for treatment?
Imposing national liveries on bus and rail misunderstands what transport branding is about
One of the most controversial announcements in 2025 in rail was the launch in December of a proposed corporate identity for Great British Railways (GBR) by the Department for Transport. This wasn’t the only public transport rebranding of 2025, either – earlier in the year, we had new corporate identities for two of the major bus groups, First Bus and Stagecoach. Arguably, though, all three are misconceived and irrelevant.
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- By: Chris Cheek
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63 LTAs saw bus patronage growth in 24/25
Only 12 get back to Pre-Covid levels as TfGM is fifth in growth league
Some measure of bus patronage growth was achieved in 72% of local transport authorities (LTAs) in England in the last financial year, according to new Passenger Trabsort Monitor analysis of the Department for Transport’s annual bus statistics. The growth achieved ranged from 19% in Herefordshire to 0.2% in Stockton-on-Tees. Greater Manchester was fourth in the growth league, on 10.7%.
However, only 12 of the 88 extant LTAs in England had reached or exceeded their 2018/19 total by March 2025 – whilst another four had got within 1% or so of that number (see table below).
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- By: Chris Cheek
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Rail funding down by 4.8% as Network Rail grants cut
Passenger support up by 3% as bills rise in Scotland, Wales and London
Government support for the rail industry at current prices fell by 4.8% during 2024/25 and dropped below £12 billion, according to recent ORR figures. The spending was split between Network Rail, (£7,607 million, down 8.7%) and the passenger train operators, who received (£4,183m, 3% up). Another £27.5m was spent on freight grants, a 33% cash increase.
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- By: Chris Cheek
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24/25 passenger bill grows 3%
Revenue grows by 11% but costs rise by 8.5%
The passenger rail industry’s finances deteriorated in 2024/25, according to figures published recently by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR)*. The result was a widening of the deficit on the passenger business requiring taxpayer support of £4.2 billion.
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- By: Chris Cheek
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Spring sun shines on the railways
Growth takes patronage to new record for the spring quarter
The pace of growth in demand for rail travel picked up in the spring sunshine, as passenger numbers were more than 7% up on the same quarter in 2024. The total including the Elizabeth Line reached a new all-time record for the April-June period, at 451.0 million. The previous record was set in 2019, at 435.2 million.
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- By: Chris Cheek
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