UK Rail: Statistics, Analysis and Comment
Insight Articles: Our Blog
A series of articles analysing and commenting on the passenger transport scene.
An autumn glow in the rail market
Annual long distance patronage moves to within one per cent of pre-Covid levels
Demand growth in the British rail industry slowed slightly during the autumn: non Elizabeth Line passenger numbers were 6.6 per cent higher than the same quarter in 2023, reaching another new post-Covid high. Including traffic on the recently opened line, growth was 6.9 per cent. Overall, demand rose to 97.1 per cent of pre-Covid levels, according to National Rail Trends statistics, published by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR). However, without the Elizabeth Line, the recovery was limited to 86.0 per cent.
- By: Chris Cheek
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Summer sun shines on the rail market
InterCity and Regional Franchises see double digit gains, but revenue still falls short
Demand growth in the British rail industry accelerated again during the summer: non Elizabeth Line passenger numbers were 8.9 per cent higher than the same quarter in 2023. Including traffic on the recently opened line, growth was 9.1 per cent. Overall, demand rose to 97.2 per cent of pre-Covid levels, according to National Rail Trends statistics, published by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR). However, without the Elizabeth Line, the recovery was limited to 86.1 per cent.
- By: Chris Cheek
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The future of GB Rail: a new golden age or an underfunded disaster?
We review the prospects in the light of the latest market statistics
When the Office of Road and Rail published the latest quarterly rail statistics in December 2024, it must have felt like an early Christmas present for the industry: a 9% increase in passenger journeys during the June-September quarter, meaning that 36 million more passenger journeys were made in the 12 weeks than in 2023. Nationally, the total moved to within 99.3% of the pre-Covid total for the quarter.
- By: Chris Cheek
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Public spending boosts English bus revenue
State funds just short of 50% of total income in 2023/24
Public spending on bus services and their passengers accounted for 49.8% of the industry’s income in 2023/24, according to our new analysis of figures published by the Department for Transport (DfT) and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).
- By: Chris Cheek
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A desire to explain
The plain man's guide to the bus industry
Chris Cheek writes about his best-selling book on the bus industry and his desire to explain how it works. It's especially useful for people who are new to the business and want to gain a better understanding of the industry.
- By: Chris Cheek
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Rail subsidies top £12bn again despite 13% revenue growth in 2023/24
TOCs get £4.1 bn and Network Rail £8.4 bn as bill falls less than 1%
Government support for the rail industry at constant prices fell by less than one per cent during 2023/24 and stayed above £12 billion, according to figures published recently by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR).
- By: Chris Cheek
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