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.
Access the estimates of station usage statistics here.
The top 10 most used stations in Great Britain
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
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
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Elton and Orston, Nottinghamshire |
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Shippea Hill, Cambridgeshire |
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Denton, Greater Manchester |
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Reddish South, Greater Manchester |
Feras Alshaker, director of planning and performance at the Office of Rail and Road, said:
