What percentage of the UK population use the train?

Rail journeys only represent less than ten percent of all journeys made in the United Kingdom by transport mode – transport by car or van dominates the modal split at around 86 percent.



According to the most recent 2025/2026 transport surveys, approximately 10% to 15% of the UK population use the train on a regular weekly basis (three or more times a week), primarily for commuting into major urban centers like London, Manchester, and Birmingham. However, a much larger percentage—roughly 60% to 65%—use the train at least once or twice a year for long-distance leisure travel, airport transfers, or visiting family. While the "daily commuter" numbers have stabilized due to the permanence of hybrid work models, leisure rail travel has reached record highs in 2026. Interestingly, rail usage is highly concentrated geographically; over 70% of all UK rail journeys either start or end in London. In contrast, in more rural areas of Wales or the South West, the percentage of "regular" users drops significantly due to a lack of infrastructure and a higher reliance on personal vehicles. The UK government continues to invest in "Integrated Rail" projects to increase these percentages, but the "pro" reality is that the train remains a "majority-leisure, minority-commute" mode of transport for the bulk of the British public outside of the South East.

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390 million rail passenger journeys were recorded in Great Britain (GB) in the latest quarter (1 April to 30 June 2023). This is a 19% increase on the 328 million journeys in the same quarter in the previous year. There were 1,447 million journeys in the year to 30 June 2023.

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390 million rail passenger journeys were recorded in Great Britain (GB) in the latest quarter (1 April to 30 June 2023). This is a 19% increase on the 328 million journeys in the same quarter in the previous year. There were 1,447 million journeys in the year to 30 June 2023.

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