The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has published its official rail passenger numbers for the year 2023/24. They show that many local stations are now used by more people than before COVID-19.
Across the UK, there has been an overall rise in passenger journeys of 16%. In our area, the biggest stations (Bristol Temple Meads, Bristol Parkway and Bath Spa) are still recovering. But many local stations are now seeing more passengers than they were at the pre-COVID peak in 2020.
These estimates were released in November 2024. You can compare them with earlier years on our Passenger Growth page.
Star performer
The most remarkable growth is at St Andrews Road. This has seen a three-fold increase in usage, up from 17,322 passengers in 2021/22 to 52,554 in 2023/24. Compared with the pre-COVID peak, the increase is nearly six-fold. This is a clear indication that the industries of the Severnside area are crying out for better rail services.
How many people would use Pilning, with its potential for direct services from Bristol and South Wales, if it had a similar level of service?
Other passenger records fall
Avonmouth, Bedminster, Bridgwater, Clifton Down, Gloucester, Lawrence Hill, Montpelier, Parson Street, Redland, Sea Mills, Shirehampton, Stapleton Road, Weston Milton and Worle stations all witnessed their highest recorded passenger numbers.
Passenger levels at Redland and Montpelier both grew by over 75% compared to the 2020 peak. Fears that Shirehampton might lose some passengers to Portway Park & Ride station have not materialised: Shirehampton had a record number of passengers, despite over 30,000 passengers using the new nearby alternative between August 2023 and March 2024. We will have to wait until next year for a full year’s figures for Portway Park & Ride.
Use of Filton Abbey Wood continues to recover, but is still 35% below its peak figures. This is presumably due to changes in the working practices at the nearby MOD offices.
Room for improvement
These figures cover a period when the lingering effects of COVID, combined with long-running industrial action, staffing issues and a shortage of trains may have suppressed demand for rail travel. Given these circumstances, these passenger numbers are remarkable and suggest that there is plenty of demand for better services.
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