A North East train station has been made the least used in the region after having an average of less than two passengers per day in the latest data.

Acklington railway station, near Morpeth, has been revealed as the least-used station in the region, according to data from the Office for Rail and Road.

The North East train station that sees two people per day:

Between April 2023 and March 2024, the station recorded just 550 entries and exits—an average of fewer than two passengers per day.

Despite being situated on the East Coast Main Line, Acklington is served by just one train in each direction, six days a week.

Its limited timetable, combined with its remote location and the small size of the village it serves, contributes to its modest usage. 

For those who do use it, Acklington provides a direct connection to several key destinations, including Alnmouth, Morpeth, Newcastle, and the Metrocentre.

These links make the station an important gateway for residents needing to reach larger towns, cities, or shopping destinations, even if the numbers travelling are small.

Acklington railway station opened in 1847 and retains much of its original charm, with its quaint platform and lack of extensive facilities evoking a bygone era of rail travel.

However, its minimal footfall reflects the growing difficulties of maintaining underused stations in rural parts of the UK. 

Nationally, the Office of Rail and Road confirmed that London Liverpool Street station retained its title as Great Britain's most used railway station in 2023-24, while Denton in Greater Manchester was Great Britain's least used station at 54 entries and exits.

But it was the regional figures that made interesting reading, with Newcastle coming out on top for the most used train station in the North East, while Durham and Darlington came second and third. 

The 10 most and 10 least used North East train stations:

Top 10 Most Used Stations (entries and exits)

  • Newcastle - 9.1m
  • Durham- 2.6m
  • Darlington- 2.3m
  • Middlesbrough- 1.5m
  • Berwick-Upon-Tweed- 0.6m
  • Hartlepool - 0.6m
  • Sunderland- 0.6m
  • Thornaby- 0.6m
  • Morpeth - 0.5m
  • MetroCentre - 0.5m

Top 10 Least Used Stations (entries and exits)

  • Acklington - 550
  • Chathill - 1,264
  • Pegswood - 1,500
  • Widdrington - 2,270
  • Bardon Mill - 10,736
  • Riding Mill - 29,734
  • Marton - 30,386
  • Heighington - 34,084
  • Manors - 35,892
  • South Bank - 38,302

The busiest stations in England outside of London were Birmingham New Street (33.3m), Manchester Piccadilly (25.8m) and Leeds (24.9m).

The busiest stations in Scotland were Glasgow Central (25.0m), Edinburgh Waverley (21.3m) and Glasgow Queen Street (14.5m).

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The busiest stations in Wales were Cardiff Central (11.5m), Newport (2.7m), and Swansea (2.2m).

Feras Alshaker, Director of planning and performance at the Office of Rail and Road, said: "These statistics provide crucial insights for passengers, the rail industry and its stakeholders and demonstrate clearly how travel patterns are changing across the country.

"Alongside our rail usage statistics, they show that since the pandemic rail usage continues to increase and that the investment put into the Elizabeth line is fundamentally reshaping passenger journeys into and around London."