Britain’s busiest and quietest stations? You might be surprised by the latest stats

I’ve written previously about the state of rail travel as we move through the Covid-19 pandemic – and the latest statistics have provided another interesting quirk.

While passenger use dropped 78 per cent between March 2020 and April 2021, London Waterloo lost the title of Britain’s busiest station to London Stratford and only five railway stations in Great Britain had more than 10 million entries and exits (compared with 43 stations in 2019 to 2020) – one station in particular bucked the trend.

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) said Berney Arms in Norfolk had been the least used station in 2019 to 2020, with 42 entries and exits. However, in the latest stats the number increased to 348, which was the biggest percentage increase of any station when compared to the previous 12 months.

The lines serving Berney Arms were closed for most of the earlier period due to work to upgrade signalling. Greater Anglia trains says of the stop: “This is a very remote station only accessible by boat or by walking some distance off-road”, and is a request stop on the line between Norwich and Great Yarmouth. You basically have to flag down the train to get it to stop – and you must “inform the conductor or the driver of your intentions in good time” if you want to alight.

It is a place for enthusiasts, and those looking to spend time in the surroundings of the River Yare and the RSPB’s Berney Marshes and Breydon Water reserve.

Stations in London dominate the ORR’s top 10 (as you would expect) and dwarf little Berney Arms. London Victoria had 13.8 million entries and exits, followed by London Bridge, also with 13.8 million. London Liverpool Street (11.2 million) also made the UK top five. Birmingham New Street was the only station outside of London that recorded more than 6 million entries and exits.

So the obvious question – what is your favourite or least favourite station on the network?

Yours,

Chris Stevenson

Voices editor