Network Rail, the owner and operator of the UK’s railway infrastructure, saw station retail sales surge by +7.8% from September to December 2013 compared to the same period in 2012, its most successful quarter ever.

 

The operator says that the growth has significantly outperformed UK High Street sales of +0.6% over the same period (source: British Retail Consortium). The growth was achieved, Network Rail says, by demand for convenience retailing and “the power of stations to deliver consistently lucrative trading environments”.

 

Network Rail’s latest trading figures were compiled from the sales results of retailers operating from over 46,450sq m of retail space (520 units/shops) across 16 of the UK’s biggest and busiest stations with a combined annual footfall of over a billion. The company also manages St Pancras International (the Eurostar terminal to Paris and Brussels) on behalf of HS1.

 

Hamish Kiernan, Commercial Director of Retail, Network Rail, says: “Station trading continues to grow dramatically, significantly outpacing the High Street. Guaranteed footfall and convenience are key drivers of this growth. We are continuing to attract new brands.”

 

The top stations, store categories and retail brands based on sales growth are shown below.

 

 

[Main picture: London Waterloo’s retail balcony.]