Collection

Bus statistics

From:
Department for Transport
Part of:
Local transport
Published:
24 September 2013
Last updated:
13 June 2017, see all updates

Information and statistics on buses.

Statistics on the local bus sector in Great Britain, presenting information on passenger journeys, vehicle miles, levels of revenue, costs and government support, the vehicle fleet, staff employed and other indicators including punctuality. The department also collects statistics on concessionary travel, covering pass holders, journeys, expenditure and reimbursement to operators.

The majority of these statistics are updated annually, with information on passenger journeys and fares available quarterly.

An index sheet lists all the tables available.

Latest bus and concessionary travel statistics

In the year ending March 2016

There were an estimated 5.04 billion bus passenger journeys in Great Britain, around two-thirds of all public transport journeys. 4.53 billion journeys were in England, of which more than half were in London.

Bus passenger journeys in England decreased by 2.6% compared with the previous financial year.

There were around 9.9 million older and disabled concessionary bus passes in England, with an average of 98 bus journeys per pass per year.

Bus mileage in England decreased by 2.0% when compared with the previous year. This was largely due to a 12.3% reduction in mileage on local authority supported services outside London.

Several DfT business plan indicators use data from the bus statistics series. These include the:

Other information on buses is available from these external sources:

See all statistics published by DfT

Technical information

Most of the statistics are derived from an annual survey of over 500 bus operators. Some figures are derived from smaller surveys of local authorities (e.g. concessionary travel), the larger bus operators or other sources. London figures are provided by Transport for London.

Users should be aware that previously published figures derived from the annual PSV operator survey are routinely revised once a new year of data becomes available, due to the nature of the imputation method used.

Full details of the data sources and methods used can be found in the guidance.

National statistics

Most of the statistics published are national statistics. Bus statistics were assessed by the UK Statistics Authority and confirmed as National Statistics in February 2013.

Concessionary travel statistics tables containing data supplied by local authorities and industry bodies and those relating to bus service provision are outside the scope of national statistics. The department’s view is that all statistics which are not designated are robust and have been produced to a suitable standard.

Pre-release access list

The post holders given access to these statistics up to 24 hours prior to release are available in the pre-release access list for buses.

Contact us

Feedback on these statistics is welcomed, and can be provided by completing this short feedback form.

Bus statistics

Publications 2017

  1. Quarterly bus statistics: January to March 2017

    • National Statistics

  2. Quarterly bus statistics: October to December 2016

    • National Statistics

Publications 2016

  1. Quarterly bus statistics: July to September 2016

    • National Statistics

  2. Annual bus statistics: year ending, March 2016

    • National Statistics

  3. Concessionary travel statistics: year ending, March 2016

    • Official Statistics

  4. Quarterly bus statistics: April to June 2016

    • National Statistics

  5. Quarterly bus statistics: January to March 2016

    • National Statistics

  6. Quarterly bus statistics: October to December 2015

    • National Statistics

Publications 2015

  1. Quarterly bus statistics: July to September 2015

    • National Statistics

  2. Annual bus statistics: year ending, March 2015

    • National Statistics

  3. Quarterly bus statistics: April to June 2015

    • National Statistics

  4. Concessionary travel statistics: year ending, March 2015

    • Official Statistics

  5. Quarterly bus statistics: January to March 2015

    • National Statistics

  6. Quarterly bus statistics: October to December 2014

    • National Statistics

Publications 2014

  1. Quarterly bus statistics: July to September 2014

    • National Statistics

  2. Annual bus statistics: year ending, March 2014

    • National Statistics

  3. Quarterly bus statistics: April to June 2014

    • National Statistics

  4. Concessionary travel statistics: year ending, March 2014

    • Official Statistics

  5. Quarterly bus statistics: January to March 2014

    • National Statistics

  6. Quarterly bus statistics: October to December 2013

    • National Statistics

Publications 2013

  1. Quarterly bus statistics: July to September 2013

    • National Statistics

  2. Annual bus statistics, year ending March 2013

    • National Statistics

  3. Quarterly bus statistics: April to June 2013

    • National Statistics

  4. Concessionary travel statistics: 2012 to 2013

    • Official Statistics

  5. Quarterly bus statistics: January to March 2013

    • National Statistics

  6. Quarterly bus statistics: October to December 2012

    • National Statistics

  7. Concessionary travel statistics: England, 2012 and 2013

    • Official Statistics

Publications 2011 and 2012

  1. Quarterly bus statistics: July to September 2012

    • National Statistics

  2. Annual bus statistics: year ending March 2012

    • National Statistics

  3. Concessionary Travel notes and definitions

    • Official Statistics

  4. Quarterly bus statistics: April to June 2012

    • National Statistics

  5. Concessionary travel statistics 2010 to 2011 and 2011 to 2012

    • Official Statistics

  6. Annual bus statistics: year ending March 2011

    • National Statistics

Data tables

  1. Buses: statistical tables index

    • Statistical data set

  2. Local bus passenger journeys (BUS01)

    • Statistical data set

  3. Vehicle distance travelled (BUS02)

    • Statistical data set

  4. Passenger distance travelled (BUS03)

    • Statistical data set

  5. Costs, fares and revenue (BUS04)

    • Statistical data set

  6. Subsidies and concessions (BUS05)

    • Statistical data set

  7. Vehicle stocks technology and equipment (BUS06)

    • Statistical data set

  8. Employment (BUS07)

    • Statistical data set

  9. Concessionary travel (BUS08)

    • Statistical data set

  10. Frequency and waiting times (BUS09)

    • Statistical data set

  11. Number of trips and information systems (BUS10)

    • Statistical data set

  12. Summary of bus statistics from other Government data sources (BUS99)

    • Statistical data set
Contents

Document information

Published: 24 September 2013

Updated: 13 June 2017

+ full page history

  1. New release published.
  2. New release published.
  3. New release published.
  4. New releases published and latest bus and concessionary travel statistics updated.
  5. New bus quarterly release published.
  6. New release published.
  7. New release published.
  8. Latest quarterly bus statistics.
  9. First published.

From: Department for Transport

Part of: Local transport