Train Season Ticket Usage Drops to Lowest Level in Recorded History, Office of Rail and Road Reports
The usage of season tickets for train travel has reached an all-time low, according to the latest report from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR). The data shows that only 13% of trips in Great Britain were made using season tickets in the 12 months leading up to March, a significant decrease from the previous year’s figure of more than a third. The ORR attributed the decline to “changing travel patterns,” as more individuals have transitioned to working from home either full-time or a few days a week due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The rise in ticket prices and complaints over the reliability of rail services have also been cited as contributing factors to the decrease in season ticket usage. While season tickets can offer better value for money for those traveling five days a week, the increasing number of individuals working from home has resulted in a decline in their need for such tickets. One such individual is 40-year-old Ashley Holmes, a digital designer who used to commute daily from his home in the Hampshire town of Fleet to London. However, with the shift to remote work, he now only travels to the office three days a week. Mr. Holmes shared with Sky News, “Annual season tickets are just too expensive. My one used to cost around £3,500, and it is currently around £5,000. Now I commute to my office three days a week, which still costs a good chunk of my monthly salary. However, it works out slightly cheaper.” He also noted the unreliability and discomfort of the train service he uses as additional reasons for his decreased reliance on season tickets.
The ORR report also revealed that there were a total of 1.6 billion train journeys made in the 12 months leading up to March, a 16% increase from the previous year. However, the 13% figure for season ticket journeys is the lowest since records began in 1987. This decline is concerning for the rail industry, which has historically relied on commuters, particularly in the south-east of England, purchasing expensive annual season tickets for a significant portion of its revenue. In recent years, train companies have attempted to reverse this trend by introducing flexible ticket options for individuals who no longer travel five days a week. However, the uptake of these bundles has been minimal, and they have faced criticism for offering little to no additional savings.
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the shift towards remote work, and the recent change in the law has made it easier for employees to request flexible working arrangements. Employers are also increasingly offering alternative options in an effort to attract and retain top talent. This change in working patterns has not been without its challenges, as seen in the struggles faced by some businesses. Last month, the publishers of the Evening Standard newspaper announced the discontinuation of its daily print edition due to “substantial losses,” partly caused by the decline in readership as more people work from home.
The ORR’s report also showed that rail revenue from passengers for the year ending in March was £10.3bn, a significant decrease from the pre-pandemic figure of £12.7bn in 2019/20, despite the total number of journeys recovering to 93%. This further highlights the impact of changing travel patterns on the rail industry.
