Guidance

Rail statistics information

Guide to rail statistics, accompanying notes and definitions and additional sources reporting on the rail industry.

• From: Department for Transport
• Published: 28 February 2019
• Last updated: 19 September 2024 — See all updates

Information on rail passenger numbers and crowding statistics

Statistics for rail passenger numbers and crowding on weekdays in major cities in England and Wales are based on passenger counts carried out by train operating companies on behalf of the department. These represent a ‘typical’ weekday in autumn and cover National Rail services run by franchised and concession train operators. These statistics do not include Open Access train operators, train operators that are franchised by Transport Scotland, or non-national rail networks.

Rail passenger numbers and crowding statistics: notes and definitions

Information on wider rail statistics

The 5 statistical data series that are published by the department and collate data about the railway in Great Britain include statistics that are originally published elsewhere. The notes and definitions document includes background information on these data tables, their source documents and supporting technical documents.

Rail statistics: notes and definitions (PDF, 342 KB, 17 pages)

Wider sources and links to further statistics on rail

Most statistics about the rail industry are published by other organisations. Therefore, a number of the statistics that appear in this series are originally published elsewhere. In these cases, more up-to-date and more detailed statistics than those published here may be available from the organisation that produces them.

Other sources of rail statistics are:

• Office of Rail and Road - ORR publishes a range of statistics including passenger and freight rail performance, usage, complaints, safety, finance and infrastructure.
• Transport Statistics Great Britain – DfT statistics covering all transport modes in Great Britain, including rail data:
  • Modal comparisons (TSGB0101 to 0112)
  • Energy and environment (TSGB0301, 0302, 0306 to 0308)
  • Freight (TSGB0401 to 0403, 0422 to 0424)
  • Public transport (TSGB0601 to 0626)
  • Transport accidents and casualties (TSGB0805 to 0808)
  • Transport expenditure (TSGB1301 to 1306)
• National Travel Survey - DfT travel survey of households in England
• Transport Focus - National Rail Passenger Survey of passengers’ satisfaction with rail travel
• Rail Safety and Standards Board – Safety performance
• Eurostat - European transport statistics
• Northern Ireland Department for Regional Development transport statistics – Northern Ireland transport statistics
• Transport Scotland – Scottish transport statistics

Statistics and research accreditation

The rail passenger numbers and crowding statistics were designated as accredited official statistics in July 2013.

The post holders who are given access to the rail passenger numbers and crowding statistics up to 24 hours prior to release are available in the pre-release access list.

All other statistics published are official statistics. The department’s view is that all statistics which are not designated as accredited official statistics are robust and have been produced to a suitable standard.

Published 28 February 2019
Last updated 19 September 2024 + show all updates

1. 19 September 2024

   Notes and definitions updated for the latest rail passenger numbers and crowding release.

2. 24 September 2020

   Rail passenger numbers and crowding notes and definitions updated for the 2019 report.

3. 24 July 2019

   Updated for 24th July 2019 publication.

4. 28 February 2019

   First published.