Transparency data

Bus passenger journeys

Bus passenger journeys in England quarterly figures.

Documents

Measurement template

The full guidance notes on DfT bus statistics

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Passenger journeys on local bus services by metropolitan area status and country: Great Britain, quarterly (seasonally adjusted)

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Details

DfT Business Plan other key data

Geographical coverage: England

Information broken down by: Region - data are available for London, English metropolitan areas (as a group), and English non metropolitan areas (as a group).

Latest data

In April to June 2015, there were 1.16 billion local bus passenger journeys in England.

Most recent data
Quarter Passenger journey (billions)
2014 to 2015 (April to June) 1.16
2015 to 2016 (April to June) 1.16
Percentage change -0.5%

The complete set of data local bus passenger journeys is available.

Bus passenger journeys in England increased by around 15% between 2004 to 2005 and 2008 to 2009, a period in which the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme was introduced. Growth was highest in London, with a smaller increase in the metropolitan areas outside London over this period.

Since 2008 to 2009, passenger journeys have remained broadly flat, with continued growth in London offsetting a gradual decline in passenger numbers outside London.

There was a 0.5% decrease in the latest quarter when compared with the same quarter in 2014 to 2015. Bus passenger journeys were flat in London (0%) but decreased in metropolitan areas (-1.4%) and non-metropolitan areas (-0.5%).

Background information

Quarterly estimates are based on a panel of the 18 largest non metropolitan operators, Passenger Transport Executives (for metropolitan areas) and Transport for London (TfL). The panel covers over 90% of the journeys made in Great Britain. Data from the quarterly panel is scaled to annual figures from the department’s main annual survey of 500 PSV operators, and figures are then seasonally adjusted. More information is in the guidance notes (see link in related information below).

The quarterly figures are less precise than the annual statistics which aim to report on all journeys, including those covered by smaller operators.

Quarterly figures are subject to revision due to the nature of the seasonal adjustment, and scaling to annual figures. However, these will typically be minor and not affect overall patterns shown.

  • Publishing schedule: Quarterly
  • Last updated: 29 September 2015
  • Next update: December 2015

Further information

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Bus statistics

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Updates to this page

Published 17 December 2013
Last updated 23 March 2015 + show all updates
  1. Business plan indicator data updated for October to December 2014.

  2. Indicator page updated to the latest quarterly data.

  3. First published.

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