gov.uk 2012 Bus Service Stats for GB – now online

[wulfrun]

The latest Government stats for Bus Services in Great Britain to March 2012 are now online.

Local Bus Passenger Journey Surveys
Help Notes

Here I have digested the most interesting figures. Passenger Journeys.

Passenger journeys:
A count of the total number of boardings of each vehicle, so a trip which requires a change from one bus to another would be counted as two journeys in these figures. Figures do not include children under 5 years of age.

Estimates of local authority passenger boardings prior to 2009/10 are based on figures provided by local authorities. In the WM this is West Midlands Intergrared Transport Authority (WMITA).

WMITA Passenger Journeys 2004-2010 (Millions)

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2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12
314.5 308.5 316.3 324.0 327.0 319.8 305.6* 284.4*
* figures supplied voluntarily as DfT does not collate this data using this method.

Post 2009/10 these figures are derived from the DfT PSV survey, and are not directly comparable. So the DfT have estimated a figure for 2009/10 based on previous DfT PSV survey results.
319.8m - original figure
313.8m - estimated figure based on DfT PSV survey



WMITA Passenger Journeys 2009-2012 (Millions)

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2009/10 - 313.8 *  (post Dudley Bus Review)
2010/11 - 294.2    (post North Walsall Bus Review)
2011/12 - 280.8    (post W-Ton West Walsall bus review)
* estimated based on old/new methods of collating data.

Using figures from the DfT PSV survey, comparing 2009/10 to 2011/12, here is the breakdown for other English ITAs.


% diff between 2009 and 2012
Passenger journeys on local bus Services

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- 1.8% Tyne and Wear ITA
- 6.5% Greater Manchester ITA
- 3.0% Merseyside ITA
- 3.6% South Yorkshire ITA
+ 6.4% West Yorkshire ITA
-11.8% West Midlands ITA

Why the dramatic drop in numbers for WMITA?

One could argue that the NWM bus reviews have identified enough routes that could be amalgamated so people only need to catch one bus - not two? Like to see evidence for this.

The WM is seeing a more rapid decline in bus journeys than elsewhere in England. Interesting to see what has been going on in West Yorkshire in the past three years as they are the only ITA that show an increase.

Other than WY, overall Metro counties are suffering. You can argue these areas are hardest hit in austere times. But with increase in fuel prices, motorists prefer to switch to rail than bus. Isn't it up to the ITAs to sort this decline in bus patronage out? Have they the tools at their disposal to tackle these problems?

The overall trend outside London is bad. In London bus patronage continues to rise.
And why is this?
Because there is a regulated framework?
An authority that is in overall charge?

England - Passenger journeys on local bus services

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               London       Metro        Shire
2004/05        1,802        1,069        1,177
2005/06        1,881        1,070        1,184
2006/07        1,993        1,073        1,253
2007/08        2,160        1,099        1,297
2008/08        2,228        1,105        1,330
2009/10        2,238        1,086        1,315
2010/11        2,269        1,070        1,317
2011/12        2,324        1,041        1,314
2006/7 introduction of the English Pension pass scheme. This would not affect Metro areas so much as many already had Free OAP travel.

[winston]

Hasn't the West Midlands currently got one of highest levels of unemployment, which will obviously reduce the number of commuter journey's being made compared to previous years.

[j789]

The way London Midland are going I would think quite a few of their passengers will be swapping back to the bus!

[winston]

The way London Midland are going I would think quite a few of their passengers will be swapping back to the bus!

NXWM should use the London Midland cancellations as an opportunity and set-up some competing express routes to compete with rail

[j789]

If they offered good value fares this would likely be successful. Even on longer journies such as an express to Worcester, Derby, Leicester etc.

[wulfrun]

Hasn't the West Midlands currently got one of highest levels of unemployment, which will obviously reduce the number of commuter journey's being made compared to previous years.

Good point Winston.

According to the BBC's Unemployment Economy tracker Birmingham currently has the most deprived areas in the UK. So yes that is a factor to add into the mix.

Although in regards to Unemployment, Greater Manchester fairs much better than most Metro areas, but the GM bus patronage dropped by 6.5% in three years. While West Yorkshire - which has more deprived areas than GM (e.g. Bradford and Leeds) has seen and Increase of 6.4% in last three years.

Looking at West Yorkshire website, I found this interesting report commissioned by PTEG - the Passenger Transport Executive Group - which may give a better incite to why passengers numbers are falling.

P.9 shows how little is spent per head on transport in the WM when compared to London.



I think we West Midlanders need to address this imbalance! After all aren't we are the cross rail/roads of the nation?

This is why I feel Transport is far more an important issue than Heath and Education services put together. Both these services rely on Transport (public/private) before they can even start their business. But it is clear we are being short changed by miles!

[Bob]

I wish NXWM would re introduce a fast service from Brum to Cannock and advertise it well!!

[Ashley]

Wouldn't neccessarily have to be NXWM would it? Independent operator maybe?

[Bob]

Dont know of any independents local enough to Cannock who would? Arriva definately wont and NXWM definately arent interested in the area no way would they ever operate regularly into it again