Not really comparing like with like though. Rail passenger numbers have increased enormously since the 1980s and all these extra users are willing to pay these high prices. I guess a lot of people have joined you as commuters. Perhaps it’s just difficult to manage the increase without building new railways and that’s not really possible.
https://www.statista.com/statistics...-passenger-journeys-in-the-united-kingdom-uk/
There has been no big increase in usage on my line. The opposite in fact, with home working. That will all change when Faversham doubles its population due to house building, of course. But no, the problem is privatization. Full stop.