The usage of rail season tickets in Great Britain has reached a historic low, as new figures reveal a significant decline. Driven by the rise of hybrid working models, the traditional season ticket appears to be losing its relevance in today’s flexible working environment.
In the year to 31 March, season ticket journeys dropped to an unprecedented 13%, a stark contrast to the 34% recorded before the pandemic. This shift reflects fundamental changes in commuting patterns, as employees increasingly divide their time between home and the office.
Decline in Season Ticket Usage
According to the Office for Rail and Road (ORR), the regulator for the industry, the proportion of rail journeys made using season tickets plummeted to 13% in the past year. This is a significant decrease from the 15% recorded the previous year, and an even more dramatic drop from 34% in the pre-pandemic year to March 2020.
Season ticket income is a vital part of railway revenue. The dramatic fall in usage marks the lowest level since records began in 1986-87, indicating a profound shift in commuting behaviour prompted by the pandemic and the subsequent adoption of hybrid working models.
Impact of Hybrid Working
The pandemic forced many office workers into remote working, leaving city centres nearly deserted. As restrictions lifted, a hybrid working model became more prevalent, with employees splitting time between home and the office. Some industries, like banking, now demand more frequent office attendance.
However, a study highlighted the benefits of hybrid working for employee well-being, noting that three-quarters of flexible workers felt less burned out compared to their full-time office counterparts. This shift has had a lasting impact on commuting patterns.
Rail Journey Statistics
In the past year, 1.6 billion rail journeys were made in Britain, a 16% increase from the previous year’s 1.4 billion.
Passengers travelled 60 billion kilometres last year, marking a 13% increase year-on-year. In the first quarter of the year, 405 million journeys were made, also showing a 13% increase from the same period the previous year.
Total passenger revenue rose to £10.3 billion, a 13% rise from £9.1 billion the previous year, when adjusted for inflation. These statistics highlight the rail sector’s recovery in passenger numbers, despite the decline in season ticket usage.
Flexible Ticket Options
In response to changing commuting patterns, the rail industry introduced flexible season tickets. These allow travel on any eight days within a 28-day period, catering to the growing number of part-time commuters.
However, analysis by MoneySavingExpert revealed that these part-time season tickets only provided cost savings for those travelling two days a week, with cheaper alternatives often available. This indicates that while flexible tickets meet some needs, they may not offer sufficient value for all commuters.
Operator Performance
Govia Thameslink Railway emerged as the largest operator by passenger journeys in the past year.
The Elizabeth line witnessed the second-highest number of journeys and the greatest year-on-year increase, with a 54% surge. This was driven by the launch of the central section of the line in May 2022, and full service commencing in May 2023.
Timetable Adjustments
Several operators experienced year-on-year increases in journeys, partly due to reduced timetables in previous years.
This includes ScotRail, Avanti West Coast, and TransPennine Express. Each of these operators had reduced timetables at different points between April 2022 and March 2023, skewing comparison with past data.
Future Outlook
As hybrid working becomes more entrenched, the future of traditional season tickets remains uncertain. The rail industry’s response with more flexible ticketing options is a step towards accommodating new commuting behaviours.
The decline in rail season ticket usage underscores a broader transformation within the commuting landscape, driven by the shift to hybrid working. With flexible working models showing benefits for employee well-being and productivity, it seems likely that traditional season tickets will continue to fall out of favour.
Rail operators will need to adapt to these changing trends, ensuring their offerings remain relevant and cost-effective to meet the evolving needs of today’s commuters.
