Member Article

London rail commuters are spending more on coffee and sandwiches than ever before

Network Rail has revealed that like-for-like retail spend at its London rail stations surged in the period July to September as passengers continue to spend more at the capital’s biggest stations.

According to the rail operator, stations in the city were the best performing in the country, with only Manchester Piccadilly enjoying comparable growth at 10% in the same period.

Both Kings Cross (13%) and Paddington (9%) enjoyed strong growth, while Waterloo (£27m), Liverpool Street Station (£23m) and Euston (£21m) were the three biggest stations by sales value.

The figures mean that Network Rail’s stations have now enjoyed eighteen successive quarters of retail growth, as the operator has undertaken a sustained investment effort to expand retail offerings at its stations.

David Biggs, Network Rail’s managing director of property, commented: “The trend in our results reflect the changes in how consumers are choosing to shop. Busy commuters and other people who use the station want to be able to shop at a time and place that works for them.

“And that is why the upgrades we’ve made and are continuing to make to stations across the country are proving so popular.

“Station retail investment is improving stations for our customers, while crucially generating vital funds to reinvest back into the railway.”