Waterloo Station is busiest in Britain for 15th year

Waterloo is the busiest station in Britain for the 15th consecutive year, despite the total number of passenger entries and exits falling by five million to 94.4 million.

Estimates published by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) today reveal that stations in London are nine out of the top 10 most used, with only Birmingham New Street breaking the capital’s dominance and remaining the 6th busiest station overall.

Despite the total numbers of users at Waterloo dipping, in part because of the three-week closure for upgrade work in August 2017, it still accommodated more than twice as many visitors as the top 10 tourist attractions in the UK combined.

Glasgow Central retains its position as the busiest station in Scotland and 11th in the overall list, with passengers using it 32.9million times this year, and Cardiff Central was top in Wales with more than 12.9 million entries and exits, making it 33rd overall.

The station with the fewest entries and exits was British Steel Redcar, with only 40 entries and exits in the entire year. Last year’s quietest station Barry Links in Scotland more than doubled its entrances and exits to 52, making it only the second quietest station in the charts.

The three new stations which opened in 2017-18 Cambridge North, Ilkeston and Low Moor, attracted more than 488,000, 252,000 and 133,000 entries and exits respectively.

Around the country, Newcastle was the busiest station in the North East with 8.8 million entrances and exits making it 48th overall, Manchester Piccadilly was number one in the North West, Cambridge was busiest in the East of England and Bristol Temple Meads came out top in the South West.