Railway station usage 2020-21

Today, Thursday 25 November 2021, the Office for Rail and Road (ORR) released their estimates for passenger usage for every railway station in Great Britain from 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021. During this time period there was 'Essential Travel Only' restrictions as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. As expected, the usage of the rail network in Great Britain was very different to previous years. 

Passenger usage fell by 78% from the previous year as a result of the pandemic. This was the lowest level of rail passengers for around 150 years. The date released today does not include London Underground figures. 

Great Britain's busiest rail stations in 2020/21

1. Stratford (13.98m)

2. Victoria (13.79m)

3. London Bridge (13.76m)

4. London Waterloo (12.21m)

5. London Liverpool Street (11.21m)

6. Highbury & Islington (8.66m)

7. Clapham Junction (8.37m)

8. Birmingham New Street (7.35m)

9. Barking (6.74m)

10. East Croydon (6.69m)

For the first time in 17 years, the busiest station in the country is not London Waterloo. London Waterloo had over 89 million passengers last year, but the central London terminus received just 12 million during a period that included lockdown restrictions. 

Stratford became was the country's busiest station in 2020/21 with nearly 14 million passengers. The station received attention during this period for the introduction of a large one-way system that required a Harry Beck style map. 

Just one non London station, Birmingham New Street, was in the top 10 busiest stations last year. Only 11 stations in Great Britain had 5 million passengers or more last year, with Leeds recording around 5.9 million passengers. 

Great Britain's least busiest rail stations in 2020/21

1. Abereach (0)

1. Beasdale (0)

1. Llanbedr (0)

1. Sampford Courtenay (0)

1. Stanlow & Thornton (0)

1. Sugar Loaf (0)

7. Teeside Airport (2)

8. Tygwyn (4)

9. Okehampton (6)

10. Llandanwg (8)

11. Kirton Lindsey (10)

12. Elton & Orston (12)

12. Denton (12)

14. Kildonan (16)

14. Cilmeri (16)

The least used stations in the country are always of interest. Whilst it is not uncommon for stations to have very few passengers, it was a surprise to see that six stations recorded not a single passenger in 2020/21. 

With just two passengers (albeit @paul_winginit on Twitter stated they visited the station twice during the period) Teeside Airport was the least used station to have passengers. The station is served by just one train per week and it is in just one direction (west bound). 

I visited Elton & Orston station in August 2020 as I was driving by the station. It was surprising that  one of the least used stations in the country (it received just 68 passengers last year) still had plenty of Covid-19 information with social distancing posters. 

With 162 passengers, Heathrow Terminal 4 station became the least used station in London. Flights were suspended from this terminal between May 2020 and June 2021. With around 6,000 passengers, Sudbury & Harrow Road was London's second least busiest station.