Increase in Tourists Flooding Coastal Towns Within the UK

Record-Breaking Summer Travel by Rail: Families Flock to Coastal Stations

The Rail Delivery Group has predicted a surge in economic contributions through rail travel during the summer of 2025. Families travelling by rail during this period are estimated to have contributed an astonishing £678 million to the areas they departed from.

This increase in economic contributions is not a mere fluke. The Rail Delivery Group's data suggests that the popularity of visiting coastal stations by train continues into August 2025. Coastal stations across the United Kingdom have seen an increase in tourist numbers, with many opting to spend their weekends at the sea or making day trips to the coast.

The trend is particularly noticeable in the North East, South East, and East Anglia regions, where the Rail Delivery Group has noticed an important increase in rail traffic towards coastal stations. These regions, home to counties like Northumberland, Kent, Essex, and Suffolk, have a combined population of over 57 million inhabitants as of 2024.

Jacqueline Starr, Executive Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Rail Delivery Group, attributes this trend to the changing climate conditions. Higher temperatures and relatively dry weather have made coastal towns more appealing to tourists. Starr also noted that the changing temperatures are influencing travel patterns, with summer getaways to the coast directly corresponding to Met Office patterns for both temperature spikes and areas with the driest conditions.

Travelling by train, according to the Rail Delivery Group, significantly contributes to the local economy. Every train trip supports local high streets, independent businesses, and drives economic growth across the country. At their destination, families spending their summer by rail are estimated to have contributed an additional £916 million, driving microeconomics throughout the UK.

The Rail Delivery Group's data does not provide information on the average temperature or climate conditions for August 2025. However, the summer of 2025 has already seen record-breaking temperatures. In June 2025, the average temperature in England was 16.9°C, making it the warmest on record. For the United Kingdom as a whole, the average temperature was 15.2°C, coming in second record-wise behind 15.8°C in 2023.

The Rail Delivery Group's predictions indicate a potential increase in economic contributions through rail travel during the summer of 2025. With the trend observed in June 2025, it is expected that August 2025 will have more visitors than August 2024. Most of those travelling towards coastal stations by train tend to live in the same region (47%).

In conclusion, the summer of 2025 is shaping up to be a record-breaking period for rail travel in the UK. With the warmest June on record, the trend towards coastal stations is expected to continue, driving economic growth and supporting local businesses across the country.