Following the comments about housing and growth, done another extract of ORR station data
Picked 2000-01 as round number about 20 years ago
Picked 2018-19 as last full year before any covid effects
Rank (national, station name, 2023-23 entance & exits
2000-01, 2018-19, % latest vs 2000-01, % latest vs 2018-19
37 Cardiff Central, 10,185,022, 6,707,944, 12,934,304, 151.8%, 78.7%
40 Bristol Temple Meads, 9,291,680, 4,184,675, 11,367,652, 222.0%, 81.7%
72 Southampton Central, 5,495,672, 4,072,160, 6,664,714, 135.0%, 82.5%
73 Bath Spa, 5,468,466, 3,009,640, 6,538,056, 181.7%, 83.6%
203, Newport (South Wales), 2,339,566, 1,466,693, 2,745,064, 159.5%, 85.2%
273 Fratton, 1,775,756, 994,274, 1,735,300, 178.6%, 102.3%
278 Portsmouth Harbour, 1,746,574, 499,012, 2,100,528, 350.0%, 83.1%
281 Portsmouth and Southsea, 1,707,210, 2,542,049, 2,053,186, 67.2%, 83.1%
287 Salisbury, 1,621,562, 1,317,775, 1,979,880, 123.1%, 81.9%,
323 Fareham, 1,415,156 , 1,103,362, 1,701,386, 128.3%, 83.2%
568 Cosham, 765,158, 588,460, 925,066, 130.0%, 82.7%
586 Trowbridge, 734,768, 404,998, 933,894, 181.4%, 78.7%
752 Filton Abbey Wood, 521,474, 336,183, 901,872, 155.1%, 57.8%
757 Westbury, 518,996, 231,093, 548,720, 224.6%, 94.6%
842 Bradford-On-Avon, 426,700, 211,968, 534,086, 201.3%, 79.9%
848 Keynsham, 418,586, 118,047, 511,642, 354.6%, 81.8%
886 Romsey, 384,366, 286,468, 520,856, 134.2%, 73.8%
1020 Oldfield Park, 297,810, 127,783, 332,654, 233.1%, 89.5%
1026 Warminster, 295,452, 247,665, 348,658, 119.3%, 84.7%
1360 Severn Tunnel Junction, 165,992, 90,946, 229,362, 182.5%, 72.4%
1751 Patchway, 77,776, 11,035, 104,078, 704.8%, 74.7%
1990 Freshford, 44,094, 19,549, 53,368, 225.6%, 82.6%
2179 Avoncliff, 23,402, 8,866, 24,396, 264.0%, 95.9%
2300 Dilton Marsh, 12,076, 10,119, 17,004, 119.3%, 71.0%
Average 2018-19 was 195%% of 2000-01
Average 2022-23 is 82% of 2018-19
So although at 82% of pre pandemic, still 60% above 22 years ago