New figures show a boost in retail sales due to station investments

This was the 21st consecutive quarter of sales growth across Network Rail-managed stations with the strongest increases in stations that have seen significant recent investment.

The best performers were:

• Paddington (+40%),
• London Bridge (+15%)
• King’s Cross (+14%)
• Birmingham New Street (+13%)
• Manchester Piccadilly (+7%)

Station investment has also led to a rise in overall customer satisfaction from the previous year, with 84% of passengers ‘very satisfied’ or ‘fairly satisfied’ with Network Rail managed stations. The figure, from the National Rail Passenger Survey, includes increases in satisfaction at stations where the organisation has invested in retail.

“Today’s results show how our ongoing investment in stations is creating places that are destinations in their own right, where people choose to meet, eat, shop and travel,” said Hamish Kiernan, commercial director of retail for Network Rail. “Stations like Paddington, King’s Cross and Birmingham New Street have been transformed in recent years and that transformation is leading to better passenger satisfaction and increased sales. Importantly, all profits from our retail activities are reinvested back in to the railway.

“We are looking forward to continuing this trend with the full opening of London Bridge in 2018 as we create 92,000sq ft of new retail space that will provide exceptional food, beverage, fashion, beauty and gift options.”

64 million retail customers visited station outlets during the quarter. Gifts and cards/stationery had increases of almost 53% and 11% respectively, while clothing retailers also saw their total sales soar by 33%.

Overall, £192.5 million was spent at Network Rail stations over the three-month period, with like-for-like retail sales also up by 1.91% between April and June.

Network Rail-managed stations