In response to the publication of the National Travel Survey by the Department for Transport, Edward Welsh from the Association of Train Operating Companies said:
“The Government’s survey confirms that the surge in popularity for rail travel over the last 15 years has far outstripped growth in demand for most other forms of transport.
“A 60% increase in trips per person by train underlines operators’ success in attracting ever greater numbers of people back to the railways, reversing the previous downward trend in passenger numbers.
“Significant investment in better and more frequent services, high petrol prices and a job market that remains pretty resilient in many parts of the country have helped passenger numbers rise to their highest levels for a peacetime year since the 1920s.”
The National Travel Survey shows that:
- The average number of trips and distance travelled by surface rail has increased overall between 1995/97 and 2010 by 61% and 58% respectively.
- Car driver and car passenger trips have fallen by 5% and 11% respectively since 1995/97.
ATOC figures show that:
- Passenger numbers grew by 6.6% last year, taking passenger journeys to 1.34bn – the highest number for a peacetime year since the 1920s.
- Passenger numbers grew by 5.4% in the first six months of 2011.
