The headlines suggest train travel is continuing to recover from the pandemic. The detail though reveals a patchy performance.

The rail industry is heralding a revival with rail journeys reaching a new high compared with pre-pandemic levels.

The most up-to-date figures from the Department for Transport show that National Rail use was at 70% of an equivalent day before Covid. That is the highest recorded figure from these statistics which began recording transport use in March last year.

But close examination shows the date on which that 70% figure was reached.

It was Monday 30 August – the day of the Summer Bank Holiday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It was the day many people were travelling as part of their summer holidays or for days out.

Yes, this is a recovery led by leisure.

The figures since then have fallen to between 54% and 64% of equivalent daily use. No day has matched that sunny Bank Holiday day.

Commuting is reported to be at approximately 33% of previous figures and there are warnings that the lack of commuters could have a “dire” impact on city centres.

By the way, car use is back to 100% of pre-pandemic levels.

There is a changing pattern of train travel emerging here.

“The peak journey time is now mid-morning between 10am and 11am”

Rail industry sources

Rail industry sources and my own conversations with station managers and gateline staff suggest there are more weekend journeys than previously and fewer weekday journeys. The “peak” journey time is now mid-morning (between 10am and 11am).

That is why the Train Operating Companies are now promoting leisure travel rather than travel to work.

The pandemic has accelerated the pace of change in many areas of life. For rail, it may lead to a fundamental shift in the way train travel is marketed.

The words “rush hour” may well disappear from our travel lexicon. “Leisure hour” sounds so much nicer.