The Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC), today confirmed its recent forecast that more than one billion passenger journeys would be made on Britain's railway last year - the actual figure was 1,007,723,920 - the highest level since 1961.
Passenger kilometres travelled, at 40.1 billion, were also more than in any year since 1947 and represented an increase of nearly 40% since 1994/5.
ATOC's own statistics show that the level of passenger journeys is rising by 3% a year confirming that Britain has one of Europe's fastest growing railways.
A poster campaign to say: "Thanks a billion!" to passengers for their custom in 2003 was launched after Christmas at stations around the country.
George Muir, Director General of the Association of Train Operating Companies said: "This is an exciting achievement. Britain now has more train services than ever, more modern stations and a new multi-million pound Train Protection Warning System now fully installed. This demonstrates that Britain's railways are changing for the better and in turn attracting new passengers".
