The busiest and quietest railway stations in Northumberland

There were an estimated 589,866 entries and exits at Berwick in the year from April 2021 to March 2022, according to the Office of Rail and Road (ORR).

The figure is more than four times higher than the previous year when the Covid pandemic limited the number to 142,290.

Morpeth was the second busiest station in the county with 402,772 entries and exits compared to 82,468 the previous year.

Hexham took third spot with 286,802 entries and exits compared to 80,300 in 2020-21, narrowly pipping Alnmouth for Alnwick which had 285,882 entries and exits compared to 61,222 the previous year.

Prudhoe had the fifth highest numbers with 114,066 compared to 32,754 the previous year, with Cramlington sixth on 111,440 compared to 21,308 a year earlier.

At the other end of the scale, Acklington with 324 entries and exits was the lowest in Northumberland, followed by Chathill on 1,492, Pegswood on 1,560 and Widdrington on 2,038.

Newcastle was the most used railway station in the North East with 7,040,072 entries and exits, followed by Durham on 2,092,432 and Darlington on 2,075,056.

Nationally, London Waterloo was top with 41.4 million.

Feras Alshaker, ORR 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.

“It’s important to thank all those in the rail industry, who continue to work hard to help people travel safely and with confidence.”

The top 17 in Northumberland (entries and exits)

Berwick-upon-Tweed 589,866 Morpeth 402,772 Hexham 286,802 Alnmouth 285,882 Prudhoe 114,066 Cramlington 111,440 Wylam 75,666 Haltwhistle 68,360 Corbridge 46,692 Haydon Bridge 35,834 Stocksfield 33,298 Riding Mill 19,582 Bardon Mill 7,490 Widdrington 2,038 Pegswood 1,560 Chathill 1,492 Acklington 324