Updated 12.20

The number of railway passengers travelling to work has reached 30 per cent, according to the Department for Transport, which says commuting also tends to be concentrated on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

The most likely reason for using trains is travelling for leisure, which involved 54 per cent of journeys. Another 15 per cent of passengers were making journeys for business purposes, apart from commuting.

Many people are using trains regularly. Of these, 61 per cent said they travelled by rail for leisure at least once a month, and 41 per cent say they commute by train at least once week, with midweek travel being most common.

The figures are the result of new research by the DfT.

Before privatisation, in 1989, the proportion of journeys made using season tickets, which tended to be the broad equivalent of commuting, reached a peak of one journey in two. This proportion had fallen to 42 per cent by 2002 but then rose again, reaching 48 per cent in 2008. By 2019, the last year before the pandemic, it had fallen back to 34 per cent.

This decline continued after the pandemic had started, reaching 14.6 per cent in 2022-3 and easing back further to 13.34 per cent in 2023-4, suggesting that many commuters are no longer using conventional season tickets because they do not travel every day.

Rail minister Lord Peter Hendy 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.’

Campaign for Better Transport chief executive Ben Plowden said: ‘Rail enriches our lives and supports the leisure and tourism sector. Every time a leisure traveller chooses rail, it reduces traffic on our roads, air pollution and carbon emissions, so Government and rail industry need to make sure they are meeting the needs of leisure travellers. This includes affordable fares, space on board for luggage and bikes, and managing work on the network so it minimises disruption to services during busy holiday periods and sporting fixtures.’

Do you have a comment on this story? Please click here  to send an email to Platform at Railnews.

Moderated comments will be published on this site, and may also be used in the next print edition.