Quarterly bus statistics, England: April to June 2022
Updated 6 December 2022
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About this release
This quarterly release covers local bus passenger journeys and fares. It provides the most up-to-date statistics for monitoring trends in the local bus sector.
This release relates largely to England, in line with the coverage of the Department for Transport (DfT) bus policy. Statistical tables that cover the whole of Great Britain are available online.
Quarterly passenger journey figures are based on data collected from a panel survey of the largest bus operators and are seasonally adjusted. The Local Bus Fares index is compiled from data provided by a representative sample of around 100 operators and Transport for London (TfL).
Summary
The number of local bus passenger journeys in England was 3.09 billion in the year ending June 2022, a 55% increase when compared with a year previous, this will be affected by differences in restrictions due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic over time. Whilst the numbers have continued to rise each quarter, the current bus passenger journeys were still well below (27% lower) pre-COVID-19 levels, in which there were 4.22 billion passenger journeys in England in the year to December 2019. The lower levels were broadly consistent across different areas, with current bus passenger journeys 29% lower in non-metropolitan areas, and 28% lower in metropolitan areas. London has shown the greatest recovery with the number of bus passenger journeys at 25% lower than its pre-COVID-19 level.
Local bus fares in England for April to June 2022 increased by 4.2% when compared to the same period in 2021. This is faster than in previous quarters, but lower than the all items Consumer Prices Index (CPI) rate of increase in the same period (9.4%). The increase in local bus fares in England was largely driven by a 5.9% increase in London. In England outside London, local bus fares increased by 2.9%. There was also a noticeable difference in fare increases between metropolitan (1.1%) and non-metropolitan areas (4.2%).
Latest quarterly and year ending local bus passenger journeys (seasonally adjusted), Great Britain
| Local bus journeys | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year ending | June | Quarter | April to June | ||
| Area | Passenger Journeys (billions), 2022 | Percentage change compared to 2021 | Passenger Journeys (billions) 2022 | Percentage change compared to 2021 | |
| London | 1.62 | 51% | 0.45 | 36% | |
| English metropolitan areas | 0.63 | 55% | 0.17 | 35% | |
| English non-metropolitan areas | 0.84 | 61% | 0.23 | 37% | |
| England | 3.09 | 55% | 0.84 | 36% | |
| England outside London | 1.47 | 59% | 0.39 | 36% | |
| Scotland | 0.26 | 57% | 0.07 | 44% | |
| Wales | 0.06 | 68% | 0.02 | 32% | |
| Great Britain | 3.41 | 55% | 0.93 | 37% |
Local Bus Fares index change, June 2022, Great Britain
| Bus Fares Index | |
|---|---|
| June-2022 | |
| (compared with June-2021) | |
| London | 5.9% |
| English metropolitan areas | 1.1% |
| English non-metropolitan areas | 4.2% |
| England | 4.2% |
| England outside London | 2.9% |
| Scotland | 1.3% |
| Wales | 0.0% |
| Great Britain | 3.9% |
Local bus passenger journeys
Comment on Coronavirus (COVID-19) impact on passenger journeys
This publication covers data for the year ending June 2022. During this time there were no movement restrictions in place due to COVID-19 in England. However, at points throughout the year working from home where possible was advised and the legal requirement to stay home after testing positive for COVID-19 was still in effect until the end of February 2022. These restrictions and advice likely impacted bus usage across the country during this period.
An indication of changes in bus passenger volume over the COVID-19 pandemic can be found in separate datasets provided to monitor the use of the transport system during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Figures are available throughout the period for Great Britain excluding London.
Figures for London are available. These figures come from a different source to this publication, but they indicate usage trends that are broadly in line with the quarterly passenger data. The release published by TfL provides additional information on bus services during this period.
The number of local bus passenger journeys in England outside London in the year ending June 2022 increased by 0.54 billion (59%) compared with the previous year, to 1.47 billion as shown in Chart 1. Bus use in London increased by 0.55 billion passenger journeys (51%) to 1.62 billion.
Chart 1: Local bus passenger journeys (seasonally adjusted) in England outside London and London, year ending June 2005 to year ending June 2022 - BUS0106a
Since the start of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in March 2020, bus passenger journeys have fluctuated, Chart 2. After an initial sharp decline in April to June 2020, passenger journeys increased and decreased as restrictions were lifted and re-introduced over the proceeding 12 months. Since April 2021 there has been a steady increase across England, following a fairly consistent pattern regardless of metropolitan or non-metropolitan status. The quarter on quarter rise has continued at the same pace within London, however since January 2022 the increase has slowed across the rest of England. Passenger journeys throughout the country have remained below that of pre-pandemic levels.
Chart 2: Local bus passenger journeys (seasonally adjusted) by metropolitan area status: England, quarterly from April to June 2005 to April to June 2022 - BUS0106a
Local bus fares
Local bus fares in England for April to June 2022 increased by 4.2%, when compared to the same period in 2021, which is lower than the increase in the CPI (9.4%). The increase in local bus fares in England was largely driven by a 5.9% increase in London. In England outside London, local bus fares increased by 2.9%. Outside of London, the rise in fares was more noticeable in non-metropolitan areas (4.2% increase), compared to metropolitan areas (1.1%).
Fares in England have continued to increase after a period of little change through 2020 to 2021. Fare increases were not allowed under the terms of the COVID-19 Bus Service Support Grant (CBSSG) in England. CBSSG has now been superseded by the Bus Recovery Grant (BRG), the terms of which allow for fare increases capped at the rate of inflation.
Chart 3 shows that between 2016 and 2018, the 12-month rate of change in local bus fares and the CPI were relatively similar, but then diverged. The most recent quarter shows that while bus fares have gone up over the last year, they have gone up by less than the CPI.
Chart 3: Percentage change over 12 months in Local Bus Fares index and CPI: England and UK, quarterly from June 2011 to June 2022, current prices - BUS0415a
Between June 2005 and June 2022, bus fares have risen more in metropolitan areas (93%) than in non-metropolitan areas (79%) (Chart 4), while fares in London have also risen (83%) over this period. The all items CPI increased by 56% over the same period, meaning bus fares have risen in real terms. It is worth noting that this differs from the short-term picture mentioned previously.
Chart 4: Local bus index (at current prices) by metropolitan area status: England, from June 2011 to June 2022 - BUS0415a
Background Information
Statistical tables
Additional tables are available online as part of the bus statistics series. Passenger numbers can be found in BUS0103 (annual) and BUS0106 (quarterly). Bus fares index can be found in BUS0405 (annual) and BUS0415 (quarterly).
Bus usage
The number of bus passenger journeys (with each boarding of a bus counted as 1 journey) is the key measure of bus demand.
Seasonal adjustment
Estimates of the number of bus passenger journeys are seasonally adjusted. This removes the effects of seasonal factors and the arrangement of the calendar so that quarterly comparisons can be made.
Local passenger journeys in different areas
Figures for England are disaggregated into London, metropolitan areas (the six former metropolitan counties of Greater Manchester, Merseyside, South Yorkshire, Tyne and Wear, West Midlands and West Yorkshire) and non-metropolitan areas (covering shire counties and unitary authorities).
Local bus fares index
The percentage change in bus operator receipts from passengers as a result of any fare changes. These figures provide an estimate of the change in the average cost of bus travel to the passenger but not the actual fare levels paid.
A longer time series of annual figures is available in BUS0405, monthly inflation figures are published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) with a detailed breakdown by category including bus and coach fares, rail fares and motoring costs.
An annual summary of the ONS transport indices is available in transport expenditure (TSGB13).
Local bus fares in different areas
Bus fares in London are set by TfL. Outside London, fare changes will largely reflect the commercial decisions of bus operators, which in turn may reflect changes in public funding.
Data sources, strengths and weaknesses
Estimates of local bus passenger journeys are based on a quarterly panel of the 18 largest non-metropolitan operators, Passenger Transport Executives (for metropolitan areas) and TfL. Data from the quarterly panel is scaled to annual figures from the department’s main annual survey of over 500 public service vehicle (PSV) operators, and figures are then seasonally adjusted.
For April to June 2022, data was received from 16 panel members, covering around 87% of the bus journeys made in Great Britain. 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. Figures are also subject to revision if a member changes their methodology for collecting bus patronage data.
The quarterly local bus fares index is based on a sample survey of over 100 bus operators and TfL, who supply data each quarter. The index measures change in the ‘gross yield’. This is the change in passenger receipts (excluding concessionary fare reimbursement and subsidies from government), which would result from a fare change, assuming no change in passenger numbers. In total the operators selected cover over 90% of passenger receipts in Great Britain, and the sample design ensures operators in each type of area are adequately represented. The survey response rate is high, for the most recent survey 78% of the sample responded, which accounts for 81% of the weight in the calculation.
Data on actual fare levels are not collected. The index assumes no change in passenger behaviour and therefore may not reflect changes in the average fare actually paid (for example if passengers switch to a different ticket type, or choose not to travel, as a result of fare changes).
Users and uses of these statistics
Within DfT, quarterly bus statistics are used to inform bus policy decisions, for ministerial briefing and to answer public enquiries. Outside DfT, passenger journey figures are used to measure the overall health of the industry and often reported in the trade press. Bus fares data are used by the ONS in calculating the CPI.
National Statistics
These statistics were designated as National Statistics in June 2012. The continued designation was confirmed in February 2013. National Statistics are produced to high professional standards set out in the Code of Practice for Statistics. They undergo regular quality assurance reviews to ensure they meet customer needs. Details of Ministers and officials who receive pre-release access to these statistics up to 24 hours before release is available.
Next update
The quarterly bus publication is currently under review. Future publication dates are still to be determined.
To hear more about DfT statistics publications as they are released please follow us on Twitter via DfTstats.
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