Rail footfall rises in Newtown

New figures from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) show that passenger numbers at Newtown railway station increased significantly in 2023/2024, though they remain below pre-pandemic levels.

A total of 140,288 passengers used the station over the year, marking a 13% increase from 2022/2023. However, this figure is still only 93% of the pre-COVID level recorded in 2019/2020 and just 76% of the station’s highest-ever footfall of 185,064 in 2017/2018.

Despite the shortfall in returning to peak numbers, Newtown remains a key transport hub on the Cambrian Line west of Shrewsbury, ranking as the fourth busiest station in this section of the network.

Data from ORR highlights the top five passenger flows to and from Newtown in 2023/2024:

• Shrewsbury (45.15%)

• Welshpool (13.76%)

• Aberystwyth (9.70%)

• Birmingham Stations (7.23%)

• London Stations (3.86%)

The figures suggest that Newtown remains a key link for travel to major regional centres, with Shrewsbury being by far the most common destination for passengers.

Season ticket holders accounted for 9.36% of all footfall at the station, suggesting a modest number of regular commuters using rail services. Meanwhile, the average number of passengers per train stood at 16.25, reflecting the mixed demand across services throughout the year.

The continued rise in footfall will be welcome news for transport planners and local businesses, but the data indicates that there is still some way to go before Newtown’s station returns to its pre-pandemic heights.