Usage declines more than at other locations on the network
Putney Station
January 5, 2024
The latest rail industry figures show that, although Putney station has seen strong growth more recently in passenger numbers, it remains well below its peak usage levels.
It was the 81st busiest station on the rail network between April 2022 and March 2023 with 5.1million people entering and exiting an increase of nearly 600,000 people on the previous year.
Of these 1.7million paid the full fare, 2.3million paid a concessionary rate and 1.1million had season tickets.
However, this remains less than half the levels seen during the all-time peak in 2014.15 when 11.2million passengers used the station.
Most stations across the country remain well below their peak usage due to the impact of Covid-19 and increased working from home but Stephen Luxford, convenor of the transport panel for the Putney Society, points out that Putney’s fall is unusually large. Wandsworth Town, for instance, is only 25% short of its peak.
He says, “Perhaps Wandsworth Town’s fall has been offset by the substantial increase in new flats near the station. Possible causes of the Putney decline might also be the drop in local office and retail employment leading to fewer commuters in and out plus the poor off‐peak rail timetable post Covid, making alternative travel options more attractive.”
Although South Western has increased the service since the reduction made during Covid the number of trains has been reduced over the years with around 28 trains an hour during peak hours and 18 off peak.
Other station users have speculated that congestion on the High Street has meant that commuters using buses as part of their journey along with the train have switched to other stations.
The long term decline in passenger numbers may explain why Network Rail appears to not be moving ahead with opening a second entrance at the station having committed to a feasibility study back in 2019.
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