New Forest train stations getting busier with passengers after lockdown

NEARLY three-quarters-of-a-million people used Brockenhurst station last year as passenger numbers soared from the end of pandemic restrictions.

In 2021/22 there were 733,582 people who entered or exited the station, which is one of the main public transport gateways to the New Forest, as well as for Brockenhurst College students.

The year before, the equivalent figure was about 230,602 – less than a third as lockdowns and pandemic restrictions held sway.

The next busiest station in 2021/22 was New Milton with 398,782 (161,658 in 2020/21), followed by Lymington Town on 200,270 (73,890) and Totton on 176,992 (75,754).

The least busy was Beaulieu Road with just 11,882. In 2020/21 only 4,038 used it.

Hinton Admiral had 91,230 in 2021/22 (31,448), Lymington Pier 75,764 (20,976), Ashurst New Forest 74,566 (30,792) and Sway 50,164 (17,908).

Within the BCP Council area, Christchurch station was the third busiest in 2022/21 with 338,458 people, compared with 117,886 in 2020/21. Bournemouth was top with 2.01-million.

The figures were released by transport regulator the Office for Road and Rail.

Feras Alshaker, director of planning and performance, said: “It is heartening to see passengers return to travelling by rail following what was a difficult period for the industry during the pandemic. There’s still some way to go in order for station usage figures to return to pre-pandemic levels.

“Once again it is important to thank all those in the rail industry, who continue to work hard to help people travel safely and with confidence.”

Out of the 2,570 stations in Britain, London Waterloo was the busiest with 41.4 million passenger entries and exits in 2021/22 – down from 86.9-million two years ago.

The least used in 2021/22 was Elton and Orston, Nottinghamshire, with just 40 entries and exits in the whole year.