A new study has led to a map being produced showing huge variations in the level of passengers using certain railway stations over the past 20 years.
The map has been published by the Campaign for Better Transport (CBT), which noted that some stations have seen enormous rises while others have actually endured declines.
Among the larger increases are a 74,011 per cent jump in usage at Luton Airport Parkway, which was only built in the 1990s, and Howwood in Renfrewshire, which has seen a 7,689 per cent increase since it began receiving trains in 2001.
Birmingham Snow Hill was another station with large growth, seeing a 3,354 per cent jump, helped by the arrival of Midland Metro trams.
The figures may prompt rail companies to invest in the construction of more passenger facilities at stations that have got a lot busier, while those in decline could suffer.
Areas like Harrogate and Clydeside north-west of Glasgow saw clusters of decline.
CBT policy analyst Andrew Allen commented: "Overall, the railways have grown very strongly in the last 20 years, but this map reveals just how uneven that growth has been."
