18 June 2026
Today the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has said passenger journeys on Great Britain’s rail network have reached record levels.
Annual data released by the ORR shows passengers made 1.83 billion journeys on the rail network between April 2025 and March 2026. This exceeds the previous high of 1.75 billion recorded in the year April 2018 and March 2019, and is also six per cent on the 1.73 billion journeys recorded last year.
The data also showed that total fare revenue figures are now at £12.32bn, just 8% less than the pre-pandemic total of £13.39bn.
Commenting, Railway Industry Association (RIA) Chief Executive Darren Caplan said: “The news from the ORR that passenger numbers are at record levels is no surprise, and backs up what we at the Railway Industry Association have been saying for several years now, in terms of the post-Covid return to rail. The present DfT figures support the ORR's report too, showing current passenger numbers at around 110% of pre Covid levels including the Elizabeth line, and 100% if not included. We will clearly need more capacity in the future, and plan for consistently growing numbers of rail users, both passengers and freight.
“The revenue figures are also very encouraging. The current figures are now just 8% short of pre-Covid levels and coming back more strongly than many said they would during and in the aftermath of the pandemic. With a commitment to good customer services both now and under future GBR, we can expect revenues to surpass previously high record levels in just a couple of years.
“So the overall message is clear. Let’s be positive about rail’s future and, working with rail reform, build and enhance the railway network so that rail customers – passengers and freight – get the connectivity they need to boost the country's economic growth in the years ahead."