Passenger Journeys by Operator - 31 December 2023
Table reveals wide variations between different TOCs
The table below re-presents the ORR's figures for passenger journeys, showing numbers for a rolling year ended 31 December 2023 and comparing it both with the previous year and with 2019, the last pre-Covid year, then giving the most recent growth and the 2023 position against 2019. The figures are for millions of passenger journeys.
The analysis illustrates the huge variations between franchised operators, which show growth last year varying between 31% on ScotRail and 6.9% on Northern. There is a similar story on recovery, too - with figures varying between a continuing shortfall of over 35% (Merseyrail) and a gain of 8.7% (LNER). The Midland Main Line operator EMR is the only other TOC to be ahead of its 2019 patronage.
The open access operators on the East Coast route also show strong growth and both Grand Central and Hull Trains are well ahead of their pre-pandemic passenger numbers.
| Year to 31 March | 2023 | 2022 | 2019 | Last Year Change | Change since 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avanti West Coast | 31.2 | 25.9 | 39.6 | 20.8% | (21.1%) |
| c2c | 35.6 | 32.6 | 49.0 | 9.2% | (27.3%) |
| Caledonian Sleeper | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 15.2% | (12.4%) |
| Chiltern Railways | 20.6 | 18.6 | 29.4 | 11.0% | (29.9%) |
| Cross Country | 30.9 | 26.6 | 41.3 | 16.5% | (25.0%) |
| East Midlands Trains | 28.1 | 24.3 | 26.4 | 15.9% | 6.7% |
| Elizabeth Line* | 209.4 | 109.0 | 54.6 | 92.1% | 283.6% |
| GTR | 271.7 | 236.3 | 358.9 | 15.0% | (24.3%) |
| Great Western Railway | 81.1 | 73.7 | 102.3 | 10.0% | (20.7%) |
| Greater Anglia | 73.9 | 63.6 | 86.7 | 16.3% | (14.7%) |
| LNER | 24.3 | 22.4 | 22.4 | 8.8% | 8.7% |
| London Overground | 178.4 | 151.8 | 188.6 | 17.5% | (5.4%) |
| Merseyrail | 27.5 | 25.1 | 42.7 | 9.7% | (35.5%) |
| Northern | 84.7 | 79.2 | 109.0 | 6.9% | (22.4%) |
| ScotRail | 78.1 | 59.6 | 99.1 | 31.0% | (21.1%) |
| South West Trains | 149.3 | 133.1 | 213.2 | 12.2% | (29.9%) |
| South Eastern | 124.7 | 115.0 | 185.0 | 8.4% | (32.6%) |
| TfW | 24.8 | 22.4 | 33.2 | 10.6% | (25.2%) |
| Trans Pennine Express | 21.7 | 19.2 | 29.9 | 13.1% | (27.5%) |
| West Midlands Trains | 60.0 | 54.1 | 81.4 | 10.9% | (26.3%) |
| Total Franchised | 1,556.6 | 1,292.8 | 1,792.8 | 20.4% | (13.2%) |
| Grand Central | 1.7 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 13.1% | 17.2% |
| Heathrow Express | 4.7 | 4.3 | 6.2 | 9.6% | (24.1%) |
| Hull Trains | 1.4 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 32.6% | 29.0% |
| Lumo | 1.3 | 1.1 | - | 19.0% | N/A |
| Total GB | 1,565.7 | 1,300.7 | 1,801.6 | 20.4% | (13.1%) |
* - TfL Rail in 2019, with a much more limited service.