Rail passenger numbers surge across Southeastern network, new data shows

Passenger numbers are rising across the Southeastern network, with both newly opened and long-established stations recording a marked return to rail travel, according to the latest industry data.

Statistics published by the Office of Rail and Road for the year to March 2025 show particularly strong growth at stations in Kent. Thanet Parkway and Folkestone West feature prominently, alongside a number of smaller stations, as commuters return to offices and more people opt for train travel for leisure.

Thanet Parkway, which opened in July 2023, has emerged as the fastest-growing station in Kent. Over the past year, customer journeys more than doubled, with entries and exits increasing by 116% to exceed 123,000. Southeastern said the station is playing a key role in supporting economic growth in the area by improving access to employment, boosting local businesses and enabling new housing developments.

Growth has also been recorded at a number of established stations. Maidstone East saw journeys rise by 34% year-on-year, while Dumpton Park experienced a 41% increase, with around 45,000 journeys made through the station during the last year.

Southeastern said the figures point to a broader recovery in rail use and reflect the impact of its Back to Work campaign, which is aimed at encouraging more people to choose the train for both commuting and discretionary travel.

Alicia Andrews, Commercial Director at Southeastern said:

“The strong growth we’re seeing across the network is hugely encouraging. Thanet Parkway’s extraordinary performance and the continued recovery at smaller stations illustrate the positive impact of our investment in new trains, updated stations and better services. Our focus is on delivering great journeys for every customer, whether they’re commuting, studying or travelling for leisure, and we’ll keep investing to make our railway even better.”

Elsewhere on the network, stations including London Bridge, Bekesbourne, Maidstone East, Dumpton Park and Northfleet have also reported notable increases in passenger numbers, underlining what Southeastern describes as a sustained return to rail across its routes.

Image: Southeastern