Bournemouth beaches draw nearly one million visitors by rail
Passenger numbers rise 7% at south coast stations amid warmest June on record
Last updated 9th Sep 2025
Coastal stations across the UK saw a spike in rail passengers over the summer months.
Demand for trips to coastal areas, as opposed to other destinations in the UK, correlated with warmer temperatures.
This year’s June was the warmest on record for England, with an average temperature of 16.9C.
Data for the South Coast, which includes data for Dorset, showed the distance passengers travelled to reach stations on the South Coast saw a 2% decrease, but the number of passengers increased by 7% between June 2024 and June 2025.
This data also shows the most popular days to travel were between Friday and Monday suggesting that many people were taking day trips or short breaks.
Last year Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole were all in the top 100 of seasonal coastal stations in Britian.
August 2024 saw the highest number of visitors by train for Bournemouth and Poole, whilst Christchurch saw the highest number of visitors by train in June 2024.
Bournemouth was the second most popular coastal destination in the UK, with nearly one million visitors travelling by train.
Additional data shows that, families travelling by rail are set to contribute an estimated £678 million to the local area they depart from and over £916 million at their destination, boosting local microeconomies across the country.
Those heading for seaside towns and villages could drive local spending of £73 million across the summer holidays.
Jacqueline Starr, RDG chief executive said, “Our analysis shows that changing temperatures are also changing how people travel.
“For the first time, summer getaways to the coast directly correspond to Met Office patterns for both temperature spikes and areas with the driest conditions.
“For coastal stations, August proves a vital month, making up the bulk of visitors throughout the year, with many showing a large spike in passenger numbers.
“Whether it’s a seaside escape, exploring somewhere new or visiting family, every trip is more than a journey; it’s a chance to support local high streets, independent businesses and further drive economic growth across the country.”