Rail Usage on the Abbey Line Continues to Rise in 2025

Annual rail usage across the Abbey Line and the wider rail network in Great Britain has once again increased, reflecting both growing confidence in rail travel and the importance of local stations to their communities.

According to the latest figures from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), 1.73 billion journeys were made nationally between April 2024 and March 2025, a 7% rise compared with the previous year.

Abbey Line and Other Local Trends

• Watford Junction remains Hertfordshire’s busiest station, with usage climbing further from last year’s 6.5 million station entries and exits to 6.9 million. While still below its pre-COVID peak of 8.5 million, the station continues to show strong recovery
• St Albans City follows closely, with 6.7 million station entries and exits, maintaining its position as one of the county’s most significant commuter hubs
• The Abbey Line’s second most-used station remains St Albans Abbey
• Park Street retains its title as Hertfordshire’s least-used station. This contrast to Watford Junction highlights the diversity of communities served by the line
• For the six Abbey Line stations running into Watford Junction, usage has increased by 23% – well above the national average

The Abbey Line data reflects the general national upward trend in rail usage that we’ve seen since the end of the pandemic. Improvements in reliability on the Abbey Line, and the introduction of contactless payments may also be contributing to the local trends. We will continue to promote these positive changes as we ‘Connect Communities With Their Railway’