London Underground passenger journeys
London Underground passenger journeys stood at 1,216.3 millions in 2025, according to GOV.UK official statistics. It is one of the indicators in the Public transport journeys table (Value · Annual), with a complete series running from 2001 to 2025. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Public transport journeys table
| Indicator | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Underground systems (outside the light rail total) | |||||||||||
| London Underground | 1,216.3 | 1,180.8 | 1,065.1 | 748 | 296.1 | 1,337 | 1,384 | 1,394.6 | 1,377.9 | 1,349.3 | |
| Glasgow Subway | 13 | 13.4 | 11.9 | 8 | 2.5 | 12.7 | 13.1 | 12.7 | 11.1 | 11.4 |
Understanding london Underground passenger journeys
Total passenger boardings completed across the subterranean rapid transit network operating within London are aggregated in this series. The metric captures every journey registered through automated gates at stations across the underground lines, excluding surface light rail, tram networks, and national rail services. This figure provides a distinct measure of high-capacity underground rapid transit within the capital's public transport framework.
Interpreting annual figures requires accounting for major engineering closures, industrial action, and shifts in hybrid working patterns that alter commuter volumes. Year-on-year comparisons offer the most accurate reflection of underlying demand by neutralising recurring seasonal holiday patterns. Revisions to provisional estimates are common as transport authorities reconcile smartcard gate logs and contactless bank card transaction data.
Frequently asked questions
- Are Docklands Light Railway journeys included in this underground total?
- No, the Docklands Light Railway and London Trams are reported separately from the underground system.
- How does this series handle contactless payment card boardings?
- Automated gate validator algorithms record and convert tap-in data into verified passenger journeys.
- Does this series cover National Rail suburban services operating inside London?
- No, National Rail services are compiled separately by the rail regulatory authority.