Retail spending across Britain’s 19 largest Network Rail-managed stations is forecast to reach almost £1.5 billion annually by 2036, representing a 45% increase over the next decade as changing passenger behaviour reshapes the commercial role of railway stations.
A new Network Rail report, The Future of Stations 2036: Retail, F&B, Leisure and the Wellness Dividend, predicts that annual visits to retail venues at major stations will exceed 870 million by 2036.
The research identifies growing leisure travel, changing food and beverage preferences and increased demand for health and wellbeing products as major drivers of future commercial growth.
Stations including London Waterloo, King’s Cross, Birmingham New Street, Manchester Piccadilly and Glasgow Central are expected to benefit as passengers increasingly use railway stations for shopping, dining and leisure activities rather than simply passing through.
Wellness emerges as major growth opportunity
One of the report’s most significant findings is the growing commercial importance of health and wellness.
Annual spending on wellness-related products currently stands at £95.4 million, representing 8.9% of total station retail sales. Network Rail forecasts this will increase by approximately 30% to £123.6 million by 2036.
Demand is being driven by changing consumer priorities, including healthier food choices, personalised nutrition and greater spending on beauty and wellbeing products.
Network Rail’s research indicates that 46% of health and beauty shoppers at stations are aged between 18 and 34, highlighting the importance of younger consumers in shaping future retail strategies.
Nick Gee, Category Manager at Network Rail, said: “Health and beauty is becoming one of the most dominant retail categories in our stations. That’s been a real game changer. Beauty, health and wellness are no longer occasional purchases; they’ve become part of customers’ everyday routines.”
Leisure passengers reshape station spending
The report also identifies leisure travel as a significant opportunity for station retailers.
Research conducted by Network Rail in November 2025, involving 5,133 respondents, found that leisure passengers account for 46% of overall spending within stations.
This shift is encouraging retailers to reconsider traditional station formats, with greater emphasis on creating environments where customers can spend time before or after their journeys.
Food and beverage will remain the largest component of station retail, although operators are expected to face increasing demand for convenience, value, healthier choices and personalised products.
Harriet Hepburn, Corporate Finance, Partnerships and Retail Director at Network Rail, said: “For our brands, the opportunity is significant. Success will depend on understanding a range of customer needs, creating offers that complement dwell time, removing friction for customers and delivering engaging experiences that cannot be replicated online.”
Commercial opportunities under Great British Railways
The findings come as the railway prepares for the establishment of Great British Railways (GBR), which is expected to bring approximately 2,500 stations under a more integrated national structure.
Network Rail believes this transition could provide opportunities to reconsider how station retail and commercial spaces contribute to passenger experience and local economic activity.
Technology is also expected to play a growing role, enabling more personalised shopping experiences and faster, more convenient transactions.
For the wider railway industry, the forecasts highlight the potential importance of station commercial income alongside traditional passenger revenue, particularly as infrastructure owners and operators look to improve the financial sustainability of the network.
However, the £1.49 billion projection relates specifically to retail sales across the 19 stations studied, rather than income received directly by Network Rail.
The report’s findings were presented to more than 40 retail and food and beverage operators at an industry event on 10 November.
With passenger expectations evolving and station footfall forecast to increase, Network Rail’s research suggests that the commercial development of major stations will become an increasingly important consideration in future railway planning and investment.
