News

• Analysis of rail industry journey figures show a 26% increase in train journeys since the end of the summer holidays, with leisure journeys at around 90% of pre-pandemic levels
• A slower increase in commuter journeys, currently at 45% of pre-pandemic levels, is putting the recovery of city centre businesses at risk
• Overall, since the start of September, leisure journeys now account for 55% of all train journeys compared to 33% pre-pandemic.

Rail Delivery Group reaction to the Budget and Spending Review.

• Commuters into London are slower to get back to the office, with only 41% of pre-pandemic train commuters returning, compared to 54% outside the capital
• New analysis shows this shortfall means London’s leisure sector would lose out on an estimated £2.3bn of train passenger spending per year on things like food and drink, shopping and entertainment
• Encouraging people back onto trains for their commute is vital to help avoid shut up shops, restaurants and bars on London high streets

• New research shows how building a net zero railway could support 6,000 green jobs lasting to 2050, generate £4.4 billion of economic benefits and catalyse the growth of emerging hydrogen and battery industries                                                                                    
• Building a net zero railway will support the levelling up agenda with over 90% of jobs created outside London and the South East and over half high-skilled 
• Rail industry says commitment by government to funding a long-term programme to build the infrastructure and technology that will make trains net-zero would help unlock these benefits 

• Stourbridge has been voted the nation’s favourite railway station after a week-long public poll
• 48 stations from across the country competed head-to-head in the World Cup of Stations
• Tournament celebrates stations and staff across the country that play a vital role in supporting the local economy recover from the pandemic

• This week the British public can vote for their favourite railway station in the World Cup of Stations 2021
• 48 stations from across Britain will compete in a series of Twitter polls
• Tournament seeks to find the station and staff who have played their role in supporting their local area to recover from the pandemic

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has today released figures showing 182 million rail journeys were made between April and June 2021 (Q1 2021/22). This is more than double the previous quarter (Q4 2020/21) of 80 million journeys, and more than five times the 35 million journeys made in April to June 2020 (Q1 2020/21).

The Rail Delivery Group wrote to two newspapers this week about the improvements that the private sector delivered over the last 25 years, in partnership with the public sector, and how getting reform right will be crucial to supporting the country's recovery from the pandemic.

• New research from the rail industry and University College London (UCL) neuroscientists reveals that travelling by train offers psychological benefits for both wellbeing and brain function
• People who use their commute to prepare for the day and mentally disengage from work on the way home can experience less stress, anxiety and improved productivity
• Improved mental health (48%), work/life balance (46%), productivity (46%), motivation (47%) and fitness levels (51%) are some of the positive effects people are expecting to experience as they head back to their workplace
• To inspire commuters to make the most of their ‘me-time’ on their train journey and get more from their commute, the rail industry is giving commuters access to hundreds of FutureLearn online courses with a free upgrade, hot drinks, tastecard memberships and exclusive discounts at nationalrail.co.uk/commuter

Figures released today by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) show that freight carried by rail in the three-month period April to June has increased by 36.5% compared to the same period last year, demonstrating a strong recovery since the start of the pandemic