The UK’s least-used railway station had simply 68 passengers in an entire yr

Simply 68 passengers used the station, the place just one prepare stops in both route every day, between 2024 and 2025

General view of the platforms and waiting shelter at Elton and Orston station

Elton and Orston Railway Station is the quietest within the UK (Picture: Getty)

Whereas seasoned rail commuters will probably be very conversant in the sight of trains and platforms full of passengers, significantly throughout peak durations such because the morning rush and night commute, there are different stations the place the fact could not be extra completely different. The quietest station in Britain welcomed simply 68 passengers all through a whole yr.

Earlier this yr it was revealed simply 68 folks had used Elton and Orston station, within the south east of Nottinghamshire, between 2024 and 2025, making it the least-used station throughout all the UK. Solely two trains name there day by day, one sure for Nottingham and the opposite in direction of Skegness. These companies function Monday to Saturday, with no trains stopping on the station on Sundays or financial institution holidays.

The station doesn’t have employees or a ticket workplace, and passengers transfer between platforms by strolling throughout an unmanned degree crossing.

The station first opened in 1850, the Nottingham Put up has beforehand reported, although passenger figures steadily declined all through the twentieth century. The determine of 68 passengers represents a substantial fall from the previous yr, when 212 had been recorded. The station is reportedly maintained because it proves less complicated to schedule rare stops than to acquire permission for its everlasting closure.

Prepare fanatic Claire Martin, who boasts greater than 20,000 followers on Instagram, the place she posts as clairesfootsteps, paid the station a go to to see it for herself. Sharing footage of her journey on Instagram, she stated: “I’m on the UK’s least used station.

“From 2024 to 2025 solely 68 passengers had been recorded right here. There are two platforms, however to get from one to the opposite it’s a must to use this unattended degree crossing.”

She went on: “There’s one prepare per day in every route, and the subsequent one is due in a few minutes.” Capturing a prepare departing, she stated: “Nobody bought off or on the prepare, however it did cease.”

She famous that the prepare featured within the footage was heading west in direction of Nottingham, whereas passengers travelling the opposite manner would cease at Grantham and Skegness. Viewers took to the feedback part to share their ideas.

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A put up shared by Claire: Overland Traveller (@clairesfootsteps)

One remarked: “It is such an costly and time-consuming course of to shut a station within the UK that firms do not trouble attempting.”

One other commented: “The great factor is that the station is stored alive despite the fact that it’s used so little for these few who want it.” Whereas any person else added: “Think about lacking it by a few minutes.”

The Workplace of Rail and Street, which disclosed the statistics, has beforehand famous that being named the quietest station in Britain can really increase customer numbers. Between 2023 and 2024, Denton Station in Better Manchester held the title of quietest, recording a mere 54 visits. The next yr, nonetheless, this determine had almost doubled to 100, stories Nottinghamshire Dwell.

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A spokesperson beforehand said: “In earlier years, utilization at a few of the least used stations introduced as a part of these statistics has elevated the next yr. We perceive that highlighting the least used stations inside these statistics can encourage folks to go to them.”