This dataset gives a snapshot of when people travel, how far they go, and how long they spend on trains across the GB rail network. It shows how the railway is currently used and helps estimate future usage based on changes in timetables, demand, or the network itself.

Passengers select their routes and services based on several factors, including the timetable, journey time, and the need for transfers or direct travel. Cost is also a consideration, although there are only a few routes with competing options. Understanding journey times and speeds is key to figuring out what influences these choices and how to nudge behaviours or improve the passenger experience. Comparing these journey times with other modes of transport can show how competitive and reliable rail travel is.

Rail travel tends to be busiest during certain times because many of us commute to and from work at the same times each day. Some passengers might opt to travel during shoulder peaks to avoid crowded trains, but this requires a flexible schedule. For most of us, our travel times overlap, and trains have limited capacity. Train doors can only handle so many passengers at once, and station infrastructure can only accommodate a certain number of people entering, leaving, or transferring. Beyond this point, passengers start to experience congestion, either in the station or on the trains, which negatively impacts their travel experience and can even increase safety risks.