The number of passengers carried on Britain’s railways in August hit 95% of pre-pandemic levels on 10 August, with seven consecutive days from 6 August to 12 August of ridership at 93%.
Railway Industry Association Chief Executive Darren Caplan described the figures as ‘astonishing’, pointing out that the peak was reached at a time of industrial action and in a month where passenger numbers traditionally decline due to the holiday season.
‘One must assume it is only a matter of time before we are back to 100% of pre-Covid levels. Given this, RIA and our members once again urge the Treasury and policy-makers and influencers not to base 30-year programmes and forecasts for the future of rail on the abnormal period of the pandemic, but instead to plan increased investment for the growth in capacity we are going to need in the years ahead,’ he added.
