Northern Rail: 10% Passenger Growth in 2025, Reaching 98.6M Journeys

MANCHESTER, UK – Northern, the UK’s second-largest rail operator, has reported its strongest passenger performance since the pandemic, recording 98.6 million journeys in 2025. The figure represents a 10% increase over 2024, adding 8.8 million trips, driven by a significant resurgence in commuting and travel to major urban hubs across northern England.

Operational & Technical Details

The passenger growth was primarily fueled by two key segments: commuters and urban travel. Annual season ticket journeys increased by 10%, equating to nearly one million additional commuter trips. This signals growing confidence in rail for daily work travel.

Routes serving major economic centers saw the strongest performance. While Manchester, Liverpool, and Leeds all recorded growth, Newcastle experienced the largest increase. This was significantly boosted by the Northumberland Line, which opened in mid-December 2024. In its first full year, the new line accounted for over 890,000 journeys. Performance peaked in December 2025, which saw over eight million journeys network-wide, the highest for that month in the post-pandemic era.

Market Impact Analysis

Northern’s results provide a robust data point for the recovery of regional rail in the UK, countering narratives of a permanent shift away from public transport. The direct correlation between the new Northumberland Line and passenger growth in Newcastle reinforces the business case for targeted infrastructure investment to stimulate regional economies. This success in northern England mirrors a broader trend of investment in UK public transport, such as Transport for London’s recent $1.1 billion contract with Indra to overhaul its ticketing systems, indicating a nationwide focus on accommodating and managing growing passenger volumes.

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