Following the positive news for rail investment in the Government’s Spending Review last week, the Railway Industry Association (RIA) welcomes the latest rail usage statistics published by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) and the Department for Transport (DfT).
The ORR quarterly figures, from January to March 2025, show a 7% increase in passenger journeys made from April 2024 to March 2025, compared to the previous year of April 2023 to March 2024. Total passenger revenue was also trending upward totalling £11.5 billion in the latest year, with an 8% increase on the previous year.
Additionally, just-published updated statistics from the DfT show passenger numbers for May at a record monthly high average of 104% per day compared with pre-pandemic levels.
Freight growth is also positive, with Network Rail revealing a 5.1% growth in the volume of rail freight from April 2024 to March 2025, compared to the previous year.
Commenting, RIA Chief Executive Darren Caplan said: “Taken together, these statistics from the ORR, DfT and Network Rail all show UK rail going firmly in the right direction, with significant year-on-year increases in the number of passengers, journeys, revenue and freight volumes, which is encouraging in UK rail’s landmark 200th year.
“With passenger numbers predicted to grow further, potentially doubling by 2050 and a Government target to increase freight by 75% in the same period, the decades ahead have the potential to be hugely positive for UK rail.
“We and our members look forward to working with the Government, devolved authorities, rail clients and other policy makers and influencers, to help grow a sustainable and dynamic rail network – whether track or train related – and a properly resourced and skilled supply sector in the years ahead. To this end, in addition to the Spending Review we hope to see Infrastructure and Industrial Strategies which are supportive to rail published in the coming days too.”
Image credit: ORR
