For retail businesses looking for shops to rent in a location with guaranteed and consistently high footfall, our train station retail spaces offer a fantastic opportunity for business growth and success.

Over 700 million passengers pass through our 19 stations each year – 40% of whom make a purchase in-station at least fortnightly. Our stations are some of the busiest travel hubs in the UK, welcoming commuters and leisure visitors alike – with 6 in 10 station users visiting for leisure purposes.

Beyond the cities in which they’re located, our stations have become destinations in their own right. People are increasingly looking to spend both their time and money taking advantage of the excellent shops, restaurants and amenities that our stations have to offer – to meet, eat, drink and shop.

At Network Rail, our team are proactive in collaborating with retailers – including over 145 brands, from household names to emerging businesses – and are committed to matching the right retailer to the right location to maximise their potential. If you’re a retailer looking for shops to rent at one of our stations across the UK, you’ll be supported by a dedicated Category Manager to help guide you through the process and check in regularly to provide valuable passenger and retail insights.

Need to know more about why our stations are the best place in the UK to rent retail space? Here are some answers to some of our most frequently asked questions – supported by the very latest data.

How does retail performance in train stations compare to high street or shopping centres?

Retailers with space in our train stations experience significantly higher growth when compared to high street alternatives and shopping centres. This trend has been consistent for many years and shows no signs of slowing down.

What are the most successful types of stores in our train stations?

Food and drink outlets remain among the most popular retail types, with around 9 in 10 station users stopping to purchase the diverse range of food/drink options available in our managed stations. Customer satisfaction remains consistently high in this segment at 81%, as does average weekly spend across the board at £21 per visitor.

The top spending categories include supermarkets (e.g. M&S Food), coffee outlets and pubs/bars, with a notable increase in visitors for the latter two in 2024. Other categories enjoying consistent success include fast food outlets, bakeries/sandwich shops and gift shops.

What is most important to customers when it comes to shops and services available in the station?

In a recent survey by Network Rail, by a large margin the 3 most important attributes that matter to consumers were all related to food and drink outlets:

• Range of eating/drinking options – 34%

• Value for money of eating/drinking options – 34%

• Price of eating/drinking options – 33%

This data highlights a clear opportunity for outlet owners, and as retail experts, we help brands and landlords optimise space, pricing, and product mix – translating what we already know about passenger needs into higher dwell time, repeat visits, and tangible revenue growth.

What is the average dwell time for passengers in our stations?

Station visitors are spending an average of 19 minutes in the station, representing a 2 minute increase year-on-year from 2023. Dwell time is even higher at 20+ minutes in the major London stations of Paddington, King’s Cross and Euston, as well as Birmingham New Street, Edinburgh Waverley and Manchester Piccadilly.

With more user time spent inside the station, retailers have a greater window of opportunity to engage customers and make sales while they wait for their train.

Who are the main age and gender groups that visit Network Rail stations?

Based on the profile of users during a 3 month period, since 2023, we have seen an increase in visitors within the 35-54 and 55+ age range, though 18-34 remain the highest percentage. There has also been a slight increase in female users in the past year.

Renting retail space in one of our 19 managed stations provides businesses with direct access to consistently high foot traffic, and a unique opportunity to become part of a busy, thriving shopping environment.

With excellent shops to let – of all shapes and sizes – in prime locations across the UK, now’s the time to explore the possibilities and tap into the train station visitor market.