Figures showing an increase in the number of passenger journeys taken at railway stations across Milton Keynes have been branded as "a cause for celebration" by campaigners.

Data released by the Office of Rail and Road show there were 7.9 million exits and entries recorded across Milton Keynes’ six railway stations in the year to March.

The figures cover the stations at Milton Keynes Central, Bletchley, Bow Brickhill, Fenny Stratford, Woburn Sands and Wolverton.

They are up 16 per cent on the 6.9 million the year before, but eight per cent down on the 8.6 million recorded in the year to March 2020, the last full year before the coronavirus pandemic.

There has been a rise in the number of rail journeys taken from stations around Milton Keynes

placeholder image — There has been a rise in the number of rail journeys taken from stations around Milton Keynes

Of the journeys recorded during the past year, 926,000 were made using a season ticket, which accounted for 12 per cent of all entries and exits across the city.

Reacting to the figures Michael Solomon Williams from the Campaign for Better Transport said: "More people travelling by train is real cause for celebration, disproving all the gloomy predictions that the railways wouldn't bounce back after the pandemic.

"People love travelling by train, and everyone who does is helping to cut congestion and carbon emissions - but unfortunately not everyone has that choice.

"Some people have no station nearby, and many struggle to afford train travel.

"We are campaigning for Great British Railways, the new public body that will soon run both trains and track, to have clear targets to increase passenger numbers and expand the rail network.

"Connecting more communities by rail, building on the success of new lines like the Elizabeth Line, and reopened lines like the Northumberland Line, will bring enormous economic, environmental and social benefits, as rail has always shown it can do."

All of the ten busiest stations were in London, with London Liverpool Street coming top with an estimated 98 million entrances and exits.

Birmingham New Street was the busiest station outside the capital with 36.6 million journeys, while at the other end of the scale Elton and Orston in Nottinghamshire was the country’s least-used station in 2024-2025 with 68 entries and exits.

Feras Alshaker, director of planning and performance at the Office of Road and Rail said: "This year’s statistics show rail usage continuing to grow around the country, and we're also seeing the sustained impact of major investment.

"These insights are vital in understanding how travel patterns are changing and in planning a network that meets passenger needs."

Have you got a story you want to share with our readers? You can now send it to us online via YourWorld at https://www.yourworld.net/submit/ It's free to use and, once checked, your story will appear on our website and, space allowing, in our newspapers.