London Liverpool Street has once again secured its position as the busiest railway station in the UK for the third consecutive year. According to the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), Liverpool Street recorded an estimated 98.0 million passenger entries and exits in the year ending March, marking a 3.7% increase from the previous year’s 94.5 million.
In the ranking of busiest stations for 2024/25, London Waterloo claimed the second spot with 70.4 million entries and exits, moving up from its fourth position in the preceding year. London Paddington and Tottenham Court Road followed closely in third and fourth place, serving 69.9 million and 68.1 million passengers respectively. These stations are part of the Elizabeth line that spans across various locations in London.
London Bridge secured the fifth position with 54.7 million entries and exits. Outside London, Birmingham New Street led the way with 36.6 million entries and exits, followed by Manchester Piccadilly and Leeds with 27.4 million and 27.3 million respectively. In Scotland, Glasgow Central topped the list with 25.3 million entries and exits, while Cardiff Central took the lead in Wales with 12.5 million.
Overall, a total of 1.73 billion passenger journeys were recorded in the year ending March, marking a 7% increase from the previous year. Notably, Elton and Orston in Nottinghamshire emerged as the least-used station in 2023/24, with only 68 entries and exits, served by minimal train services per week.
Railway stations are often kept operational despite low usage due to the logistical challenges of closure. Network Rail, the owner of London Liverpool Street, is planning a redevelopment project worth £1.2 billion, including the construction of a 97-meter tower block over the station concourse. Previous controversial proposals for a taller tower have been abandoned following public criticism.
The City of London Corporation is expected to decide on the approval of the latest redevelopment proposal in the coming year. The list of the top 20 busiest and quietest railway stations in Britain for 2024/25 has been published by the Office of Rail & Road, showcasing a comprehensive overview of passenger traffic across the country.