Rail strikes marginally impact footfall
Until 12pm today, footfall was only +0.6% higher across Central London, indicating that many visitors to the capital stayed away due to the strikes
Today’s rail strikes (12 May) have impacted footfall across the UK, with footfall down by -0.7% from last Friday.
According to the latest findings from Springboard, this means that footfall has not “bounced back” from last Friday, the Friday before the Coronation bank holiday weekend, when footfall was already -3.5% lower than the week before.
According to the Springboard Central London ‘Back to the Office’ benchmark, which tracks activity in areas closest to office locations, it was clear that last Friday many took an extra day’s leave as footfall was -11% lower than the week before in Central London and -7.8% lower.
Up until 12pm today, footfall was higher in each of these areas, but only +0.6% higher across Central London, indicating that many visitors to the capital stayed away due to the strikes.
While Springboard’s Back to the Office benchmark was +6.3% higher than last Friday, indicating that some employees still went to their offices, it said these are likely to be those who can reach Central London by car or by tube.
This is demonstrated by the Outer London benchmark only being +4.8% higher today than last Friday when it was -6.1% lower than the prior week.
On preceding rail strike days, the uplift in footfall in Outer London has been much higher, at least +10% higher than the week before.
