Annual customer spending across Britain's busiest railway stations is set to surge by 45% over the next decade, reaching almost £1.5 billion by 2036, according to a major new report from Network Rail.
The report, The Future of Stations 2036: Retail, F&B, Leisure and the Wellness Dividend, predicts that annual visits across Network Rail's 19 managed stations will exceed 870 million by 2036, driving significant growth in retail, food and beverage (F&B), leisure and wellness spending.
Major stations including London Waterloo, London King's Cross, Birmingham New Street, Manchester Piccadilly and Glasgow Central are expected to evolve beyond their traditional role as transport hubs, becoming vibrant destinations where passengers and local communities choose to shop, dine, socialise and spend their time.
The forecast suggests annual customer spend will rise to £1.49 billion, fuelled by growing passenger numbers, increasing leisure travel and changing consumer expectations around convenience, wellbeing and experience-led retail.
Wellness Set to Become a Major Growth Category
While food and beverage outlets will remain the cornerstone of station retailing, Network Rail identifies health, beauty and wellness as one of the most significant growth opportunities over the next decade.
Currently generating £95.4 million in annual sales and accounting for 8.9% of total station spending, wellness-related retail is projected to grow by 30%, reaching £123.6 million by 2036.
The report highlights how wellness is increasingly influencing purchasing decisions across multiple sectors, including food-to-go, health products, fashion and beauty.
Harriet Hepburn, Corporate Finance, Partnerships and Retail Director, Network Rail said: “For our brands, the opportunity is significant. Success will depend on understanding a range of customer needs, creating offers that complement dwell time, removing friction for customers and delivering engaging experiences that cannot be replicated online."
“This evolution comes at a pivotal moment for the railway sector. As Great British Railways takes shape, bringing track and train together under unified leadership, its future estate is expected to encompass around 2,500 stations across Britain, creating an unprecedented opportunity to reimagine the role stations play within communities and in everyday life.”
The Six Forces Shaping Rail Retail by 2036
According to Network Rail, six major trends will define the future of station retail:
- A £1.5 billion retail opportunity driven by commuters, leisure travellers and local communities.
- Accelerating visitor growth, particularly across London stations.
- Food and beverage maintaining its dominance as the largest spending category.
- Greater competition in food-to-go, driven by convenience, quality and value.
- The wellness revolution, influencing food, retail, beauty and services.
- Personalised technology, delivering more seamless and tailored customer experiences.
Retailers that successfully combine speed, service, value and engaging experiences are expected to outperform competitors.
The Impact of the Wellness Revolution
Network Rail believes the UK's growing focus on wellbeing will reshape station environments and retail offers over the coming decade.
The report points to increasing adoption of GLP-1 weight-loss medications, rising demand for healthier food options and growing consumer interest in personalised nutrition as key drivers of change.
Health and beauty retail already attracts a valuable customer demographic within stations. Nearly half (46%) of customers purchasing health and beauty products are aged between 18 and 34, while leisure travellers account for 55% of all health and beauty users.
Impulse spending is also particularly strong, with 53% of health and beauty impulse purchases being made by younger travellers who are among the highest spenders in station environments.
Nick Gee, Category Manager, Network Rail says: “Health and beauty is becoming one of the most dominant retail categories in our stations. That’s been a real game changer. Beauty, health and wellness are no longer occasional purchases; they’ve become part of customers’ everyday routines.”
The report argues that personalisation will become an essential feature of future food and beverage offers.
Fiona Thomson, Category Manager at Network Rail says: “By 2036, customisation will be the default, but how we align this with speed and convenience will be key. In 2036, travellers may build meals almost as easily as ordering a coffee today, choosing protein, sauce, fibre level and portion size, adjust calories and macros, save favourite combinations in an app. The concept of a fixed meal deal could evolve into a highly customised bundle.”
Industry experts also expect traditional sector boundaries to continue blurring as wellness becomes increasingly integrated into everyday consumer behaviour.
Jacqueline Windsor, Head of Retail at PwC adds: "Wellness is becoming a cross-category ecosystem. From beauty and personal care to fitness, sleep and mental health, brands are increasingly addressing consumers' health needs in more connected ways, causing traditional industry lines to converge."
Despite ongoing cost-of-living pressures, wellness spending remains resilient.
Jacqueline Windsor says: "Wellness has become a protected spend. Many consumers may make savings elsewhere, but they continue to invest in products, services and experiences that help them live longer and healthier lives."
Leisure Travel Driving Growth
Alongside wellness, the report identifies leisure travel as another major growth driver for station retail.
Network Rail's research found that leisure passengers currently account for 46% of total station spending, making leisure travel the fastest-growing rail market segment.
As a result, stations are increasingly being viewed as destinations in their own right rather than simply places to pass through.
The report suggests that by 2036 many stations could function as curated retail and leisure destinations, benefiting from a built-in audience of travellers while reflecting the unique character of their local city or region.
Retail experts involved in the study believe the most successful operators will balance convenience and speed with healthier products, trusted brands and environments designed to reduce stress and improve customer experience.
Stations Becoming Multi-Purpose Destinations
The report concludes that Britain's railway stations are uniquely positioned to become some of the country's most powerful physical retail environments due to their substantial and growing footfall.
Future stations are expected to combine transport, retail, hospitality, leisure, health and wellbeing services into integrated destinations that support both passengers and local communities.
Harriet Hepburn added: "The next 10 years is set to be a defining decade for station retail, F&B, health and wellness and leisure experiences. As GBR and our brands reimagine what's possible and our network spreads to stations large and small across the country, we are on the journey to provide our customers with world class travel environments."
Image credits: Network Rail
