Rail station usage: April 2018 to March 2019

Revision note

Rail station usage statistics for 2018-19 were first published on 19 February 2020. However, due to errors in in the original data from the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) the statistics were revised by ORR on 10 May 2020. The revised statistics show a reduced number of rail station entries and exits in Wales than had initially been published. The initial data published by ORR showed an increase in the number of station entries and exits in Wales of 9.4%, while the revised figures show an increase of 0.4%.

More detail on the issues identified by ORR can be found in their revisions log.

This release has been scaled back from the usual statistical bulletin as we prioritise resources towards analysis on the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Main points

• There was a 0.4% increase in the number of station entries and exits in Wales in 2018-19 (52.7 million) compared with the previous year, the lowest year on year percentage increase ever recorded in Wales.
• Most of the largest increases in 2018-19 occurred in South East Wales, especially on the City Line in Cardiff, and at stations on the Valleys Line close to or in Cardiff.
• The number of station entries and exits in Wales has risen every year since 2004-05, and by 61% over that period.
• Cardiff Central remains the busiest station in Wales with 25 % of all station entries/exits. Of the 20 busiest stations in Wales, more than half are part of the Valley Lines network (not including Cardiff Central and Cardiff Queen Street) and two are in North Wales at Rhyl and Bangor.

Further detailed tables can be found on StatsWales and key quality information can be found in last year’s release.