UK's quietest train station was only used 54 times in the past year

The UK's least frequented train station has been unveiled as Denton in Greater Manchester, recording a mere 54 entries and exits between April 2023 and March 2024.

Despite its proximity to Manchester city centre - just half an hour away - and its location near the scenic Peak District, Denton has claimed the dubious honour of being the country's most deserted train station.

Earlier this month, the Office of Road and Rail (ORR) disclosed the ten busiest train stations both within and outside London, as well as the UK's five most tranquil stations.

Denton's inclusion on the list might not come as a shock to those familiar with the area, given that it is serviced by only two trains on Saturday mornings - one to Stockport and another to Stalybridge.

Reddish South, another station on the same line, also found itself on the list of least-used stations, ranking fifth with just 128 entries and exits during the same period.

These stations are typically a magnet for train enthusiasts, as this route is one of a handful of 'ghost trains' - services that exist solely to keep the line open for commercial use.

In stark contrast, the UK's busiest station, London Liverpool Street, clocked up a staggering 94.5 million entries and exits.

Meanwhile, Manchester Piccadilly, a mere half-hour journey from Denton and Reddish South, recorded 25.8 million entries and exits, making it the second busiest station outside London, hot on the heels of Birmingham New Street with 33.3 million.

Outside England, the boffins at ORR have disclosed that the least frequented station in Wales was Roman Bridge with 680 entries and exits, while Scotland's was Kildonan, clocking up just 240 entries and exits.

Two UK stations, Stanlow and Thornton and Teesside Airport were left out of the results, as both had services put on hold for the entire year, meaning they chalked up 0 entries and exits.

The UK's least used train stations - with numbers of entries and exits

1. Denton, 54
2. Shippea Hill, Cambridgeshire, 70
3. Ince and Elton, Cheshire, 80
4. Polesworth, Warwickshire, 118
5. Reddish South, Greater Manchester, 128