DfT research identifies leisure as most common reason for travelling by train
New research from the Department for Transport (DfT) shows that leisure is the most common reason for travelling by train and the most common days to commute by train are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Undertaken to better understand how passengers use the railway, DfT’s research found that:
54% respondents said they were travelling for leisure
30% were commuting for work or education
15% were travelling for business
61% said they travelled by rail for leisure at least once a month
41% said they used the railway for commuting at least once a week, with Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday being the most popular days
This last point, says DfT, shows a return to midweek office working, demonstrating how essential the railway is for connecting people to get to work, providing a path for opportunity and catalysing economic growth.
Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy said “Our railway is the backbone of our economy, connecting people across the country and fuelling business, growth and opportunity, supporting the Plan for Change.
“This research shows thousands of passengers choose the train for their leisure travel. To go and see family and friends, go on holiday or go to big events whether its concerts, festivals or a football match, the train is the best way to get there.”
Lord Hendy also pointed out there with no national strikes since 9 May 2024, passengers have been protected from significant disruption and delays, avoiding further impacts to the hospitality industry and wider economy. This, he says, has meant the network has been able to start getting its financial footing back, with rail revenue increasing by 8% from the latest quarter (October to December 2024) compared to the same quarter in 2023.
The research also identified a key barrier to more people taking the train is still a lack of consistency in reliable services as delays and cancellations mean people miss days of work, hospital appointments or social events. The latest passenger data shows cancellations in the latest quarter (October to December 2024) was 5.1%, with 70,000 fully cancelled trains across the network.
The government is in the process of overhauling the rail network, bringing train operating companies into public ownership and setting up Great British Railways (GBR).