Network Rail annual retail sales surpass £800m

Network Rail has revealed that retail sales reached over £800m in the past 12 months across its retail portfolio of 19 managed stations in Great Britain.

It said that over 600,000 sq ft of prime retail space is managed by Network Rail within major city centre locations, with footfall climbing above 700 million visits per year. In the past 12 months 53 new units have opened, attracting 15 new brands to the portfolio alongside 18 pop-ups to test the retail travel market.

London Liverpool Street, which turned 150 this year, is Network Rail’s busiest station by passenger numbers and also its highest grossing station – accounting for over £92m in total annual sales over the last year. Some 30 retailers make up 73,000 sq ft of retail space at London Liverpool Street, with brands including Oliver Bonas, Leon and Coco di Mama.

At London Waterloo, the opening of The Victory pub has helped boost sales per sq ft to £2,507 annual average.

Network Rail said diversifying the retail offering in stations and sustained sales growth highlights that investment is “boosting the position of stations as places to eat, shop and travel”.

Hamish Kiernan, commercial director, Property at Network Rail, said: “Our figures for the last year are highly encouraging and reflect how providing customers with an attractive mix of retail and F&B is a priority for Network Rail. We’ve welcomed new major brands, exciting new pop-up stores and refurbishments which signifies brands’ appetite for continued investment across our portfolio. As we pivot towards a more curated offering, Network Rail stations are developing into retail and leisure destinations in their own right.”