May 24 2021 – remember the date.

Why?

Because that was the day National Rail use in Great Britain reached more than half its pre-pandemic level for the first time since the Covid crisis struck.

Official figures from the Department for Transport show that on that day, National Rail use was 51% of an equivalent day or week before March 2020.

As we know, rail usage dropped dramatically during the first national lockdown and has been struggling to pick up as restrictions have eased. On the same day that rail usage reached more than half its previous level, car use was up to 92% of its pre-pandemic level and use of all motor vehicles was running at 97%.

The recovery is being driven by cars and not by rail.

The direction of travel for rail use is encouraging but it’s hardly going to break any speed records.

Ministers say they are backing public transport. The message has yet to get through.