London Liverpool Street has once again been named the busiest railway station in Great Britain, according to the latest official figures. The station saw an estimated 98.0 million entries and exits in the year to the end of March 2025, cementing its position at the top of the list.
The Battle of the London Hubs
The data from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) shows a 3.7% increase in footfall at Liverpool Street compared to the previous year. Its closest rival was London Waterloo, which secured second place with 70.4 million passenger movements. This marks a significant comeback for Waterloo, which was ranked fourth the year before.
Waterloo had held the title of the UK's busiest station for 17 of the 18 years leading up to 2021/22. Its reign ended with the transformative opening of the Elizabeth line, which has reshaped passenger flows across the capital.
Two other stations served by the Elizabeth line featured prominently in the top five. London Paddington took third place with 69.9 million entries and exits, while Tottenham Court Road followed closely in fourth with 68.1 million.
Regional Leaders and National Trends
Outside of London, the busiest stations maintained their regional dominance. Birmingham New Street led the way in England with 36.6 million passengers. It was followed by Manchester Piccadilly (27.4 million) and Leeds station (27.3 million).
In Scotland, Glasgow Central was the most used station, recording 25.3 million entries and exits. Cardiff Central topped the list in Wales with 12.5 million passengers.
The ORR reported that the total number of passenger journeys across the network reached 1.73 billion for the year, a notable 7% rise from the 1.61 billion recorded in the previous 12-month period.
The UK's Quietest Railway Station
At the opposite end of the scale, the title of least-used station in 2024/25 went to Elton and Orston in Nottinghamshire. This rural halt registered just 68 entries and exits across the entire year.
The station's minimal service explains its quiet nature. It is served by a single East Midlands Railway train per day in each direction, Monday through Saturday, with no Sunday service at all. One service runs to Nottingham, while the other travels towards Skegness. The station is unstaffed and lacks basic amenities like seating or toilets.
Such stations often remain open despite low usage because it is frequently simpler to maintain an infrequent service than to navigate the complex legal and procedural hurdles required for formal closure.
Future Developments at a Busy Hub
The future of the now twice-crowned busiest station is the subject of a major redevelopment proposal. Network Rail, which owns Liverpool Street, is pursuing a £1.2 billion project to redevelop the Grade II listed site. The controversial plan includes constructing a 97-metre mixed-use tower block above the station concourse.
A previous, taller proposal for a 108-metre tower was scrapped after drawing criticism from notable public figures. The City of London Corporation is expected to decide on the current application next year.
