London Liverpool Street Station

Almost 100 Million Passengers! The Station That’s Dominating UK Rail Travel

London Liverpool Street is Great Britain’s busiest railway station for the third year running with almost 100 million entries and exits, the Office of Rail and Road has confirmed today. Elton and Orston in Nottinghamshire is once again the least used station with 68 entries and exits. 

The results, from ORR’s latest annual estimates of station usage statistics (April 2024 to March 2025) published today, reflect the continuing impact of the Elizabeth line, which has reshaped travel patterns across London since the central section opened in May 2022. Its services continue to drive high usage at London Liverpool Street, Paddington, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon and Stratford. 

Six of the top 10 most popular flows – journeys between stations – were between stations served by the Elizabeth line, with 8.7m journeys between London Liverpool Street and Tottenham Court Road. 

The top 10 most used stations in Great Britain 

Rank 

Station 

Entries and Exits 

Rank last year 

London Liverpool Street 

98m 

London Waterloo 

70.4m 

London Paddington 

69.9m 

Tottenham Court Road 

68.1m 

London Bridge 

54.7m 

London Victoria 

53.8m 

Stratford (London) 

51.5m 

Farringdon 

50.2m 

Bond Street 

42.8m 

10 

London Euston 

40.2m 

10 

Birmingham New Street remains the busiest station outside of London with 36.6 million entries and exits. Manchester Piccadilly remains in second place (27.4m), with Leeds (27.3m) leapfrogging Glasgow Central into third place.  

In Scotland, Glasgow Central (25.3m) and Edinburgh Waverley (22.8m) continue to be the country’s busiest stations, maintaining their long-term national rankings.  

Cardiff Central is the busiest station in Wales with 12.5 million entries and exits, with Newport (South Wales) second with 2.8m. 

The top 10 most used stations in Great Britain outside London 

Rank 

Station 

Entries and Exits 

Rank last year 

Birmingham New Street 

36.6m 

Manchester Piccadilly 

27.4m 

Leeds  

27.3m 

Glasgow Central 

25.3m 

Edinburgh Waverley 

22.8m 

Gatwick Airport 

21.2m 

Brighton 

15.3m 

Glasgow Queen Street 

15.0m 

Liverpool Central 

14.8m 

10 

10 

Liverpool Lime Street 

14.4m 

11 

Elton and Orston in Nottinghamshire was Great Britain’s least used station, with just 68 recorded entries and exits. It was also the least used station in the year April 2021 to March 2022. Shippea Hill in Cambridgeshire (76) and Ince and Elton in Cheshire (98) also feature among the quietest stations.

Denton in Greater Manchester - last year’s least used station - is now fourth, after the number of entries and exits nearly doubled compared with last year.  

The top 5 least used stations in Great Britain 

Rank 

Station 

Entries and Exits 

Rank last year 

Elton and Orston, Nottinghamshire  

68 

Shippea Hill, Cambridgeshire 

76 

Ince and Elton, Cheshire 

98 

Denton, Greater Manchester 

100 

Reddish South, Greater Manchester 

102 

 

Feras Alshaker, director of planning and performance at the Office of Rail and Road, said: 

“This year’s statistics show rail usage continuing to grow around the country, and we’re also seeing the sustained impact of major investment, particularly the Elizabeth line. These insights are vital in understanding how travel patterns are changing and in planning a network that meets passenger needs.” 

Image credit: ORR

147

RTM Issue 147

PROPERTY ASSET MANAGEMENT - THE STATION QUALITY FACTOR

Focusing on the latest developments, innovations, and policy impacts in the UK rail industry, with a particular emphasis on sustainability, infrastructure upgrades, and future technological advancements.

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