Liverpool Street retains title as UK's busiest station

For the third year in a row, London Liverpool Street has earned the title of Britain's busiest railway station. According to the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), the station recorded a total of 98 million passengers passing through its gates by the end of March, reflecting a 3.7% increase from the previous year.

Following closely behind in popularity were Waterloo, Paddington, and Tottenham Court Road, all of which ranked among the top stations in the UK. In fact, the top 10 busiest stations were all located in London.

The station with the highest traffic outside London was Birmingham New Street, ranking 13th overall, with 36.6 million passengers. Meanwhile, Elton and Orston in Nottinghamshire recorded the least activity, with only 68 entries and exits.

The full list of the top 10 busiest stations includes: London Bridge, Victoria, Stratford, Farringdon, Bond Street, and Euston. Notably, the rankings reflect the influence of the Elizabeth Line, which opened in 2022, with four of the top 10 stations being served by this new route.

Passenger data is primarily based on ticket sales, according to the rail regulator. Outside of London, the busiest stations were Manchester Piccadilly with 27.4 million passengers, and Leeds at 27.3 million entries and exits.

In Scotland, Glasgow Central was the busiest station, with 25.3 million users, followed by Edinburgh Waverley at 22.8 million entries and exits. Cardiff Central ranked as the busiest station in Wales, with a total of 12.5 million passengers.

Despite being the UK's quietest station, Elton and Orston remains operational with one train service in each direction per day. This station, served by East Midlands Railway, connects passengers to both Nottingham and Skegness. However, it is unstaffed and lacks seating or restroom facilities.

Author: Olivia Parker