14.14 Northern from Sheffield to Edale, 4 car 150. Over 50% of seats taken with passengers, including in the usually almost empty front coach. Most unoccupied seats taken with luggage and/or feet! Luggage racks unused. However previous Northern stopping train at 13.14 had been cancelled (This service was cancelled due to a problem with the train (M8).)
Price for Northern single fare on that train next Friday, Sheffield - Piccadilly £6.30. 80 minutes. Alternative TPE at 14.11, single fare £10.90, taking 53 minutes. (EMR 14.43 is currently withdrawn until December but would probably have cost £13 or more and taken about 54 minutes.)
Return service also 4 car and similar experience although lead coach had more space. (Apparently there's a heavy metal gig on in Sheffield tonight.) Similar price differentials showing for next Friday with advance Northern single fares as little as £5.40.
3 years ago Pacers on this route had crushed passengers passing out. Today we saw the combined effects of ticket pricing, missing trains, and better rolling stock. Comparisons with loads seen 3 or 4 years need to consider many factors, but my impression is that on this route during the middle of the day, when the weather is fine, they're higher than pre-Covid. Commuting remains very low, maybe no more than 30-35% of what it was, so the net result is hard to judge.