New figures from the Great British Railways Transition Team show that an upturn in leisure travel has boosted quarterly rail revenue by £295 million. Analysis of the latest rail statistics shows revenue from leisure travel grew by a fifth (19%) quarter-on-quarter.

The numbers also reveal an increase of 6% in commuting and business travel revenues up 8% in the second quarter of this year (1 April to 30 June 2023) with more people going into the office on more days.

Commenting on the figures Darren Caplan, Chief Executive of the Railway Industry Association, said: “These hugely encouraging GBRTT numbers are further evidence that passengers are returning to the railway in a big way.

“It’s a reminder that as a country we must not take our foot off the pedal of rail investment, and that we need to think about future demand today by planning capacity for tomorrow. Rail growth, both now and in the decades ahead, can only be achieved by a reformed railway alongside a long-term plan with a visible pipeline for rail suppliers. Ultimately this benefits customers – both rail and freight – as well as the public purse, which gets better value for money as we seek to develop world-class rail infrastructure and rolling stock in the months and years ahead.”

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