Hertfordshire railways stations recorded an 11 per cent increase in passenger numbers last year (23/24), according to data presented to county councillors.

The data was included in an update to the county council's Rail Strategy, which sets out the council's aspirations for the rail network in Hertfordshire.

And it was presented to the latest meeting of the council's highways and transport cabinet panel on Wednesday (February 12).

At the meeting it was reported to councillors that more than 70 million rail journeys are made from Hertfordshire stations per year.

But despite the increase in passenger numbers of 11 per cent last year (23/24), based on estimates of entries and exits, that's still reported to be 14 per cent lower than before the pandemic.

According to the report presented to councillors, the busiest stations in Hertfordshire in 23/24 were Watford Junction (6,474,842), St Albans City (6,318,690) and Stevenage (4,271,680).

The quietest stations – according to the data – were Park Street (16,980), Bricket Wood (23,234) and How Wood (25,150).

And there were, says the report, "very little" change to timetables in 2024 – except for the addition of "a small number" of peak hour services, in response to increasing numbers.

According to the data, there were seven stations on the East Coast Mainline recording annual passenger numbers in excess of a million.

They were Stevenage (4,271,680), Hitchin (2,682,410), Potters Bar (2,378,970), Hatfield (2,318,164), Welwyn Garden City (2,313,242),  Letchworth (1,598,310) and Royston 1,272,012.

Meanwhile on the route from Stevenage to Moorgate, the data shows just 65,400 passengers recorded at Bayford.

The four Hertfordshire stations on the Midland Mainline all recorded more than a million passenger journeys.

St Albans was the most popular (6,318,690) followed by Harpenden (3,238,998), Elstree and Borehamwood (2,643,842) and Radlett (1,227,226).

On the West Anglia Mainline the stations to record the highest number of passenger journeys in 23/24 were Bishop's Stortford (2,806,012), Cheshunt (2,442,904) and Broxbourne (1,624,830).

On the branch line feeding into the West Anglia Mainline, Ware recorded 1,012,892 passenger journeys and Hertford East, 1,011,104.

Meanwhile on the West Coast Line, Watford Junction recorded 6,474,842 passenger journeys – the highest number of any Hertfordshire station.

Other stations on the line to record in excess of a million passenger journeys – according to the 23/24 data – were Berkhamsted (1,664,916), Hemel Hempstead (1,436,546), Bushey (1,157,470), and Carpenders Park (1,073,672).

Meanwhile some of the least used stations were reported to have been on the Abbey line – a branch line that joins the west coast line at Watford Junction.

Although there were 117,888 passengers recorded at St Albans Abbey, the remaining stations – Park Street (16,980), How Wood (25,150), Bricket Wood (23,234) and Garston (45,030) were amongst the least used stations in Hertfordshire.

The remaining line to be included in the county's rail strategy is the Chiltern Line.

According to the data, on the Chiltern Line, Rickmansworth recorded 1,072,706 passenger journeys.

Meanwhile Watford Metropolitan, which links through a branch line, recorded 1,650,000.

Although the county council publishes its rail aspirations annually, it has no powers over how rail services are delivered.

It does hold a 'rail improvement capital budget' to support a limited number of schemes.

And according to the report the focus of this is on forecourt improvements, which will provide benefits for sustainable transport access, such as walking cycling and the use of buses.

According to the report bike thefts continue to be an issue which can deter people from cycling to stations.

"St Albans City station in particular has been targeted by bike thieves and in 2022 had 260 bikes stolen," says the report.

"Work is ongoing with the rail industry, British Transport Police and local authorities to find solutions and reduce the number of thefts."