Bus and light rail statistics Great Britain: October - December 2006

Bus and Light Rail Statistics GB: October to December 2006 - The bulletin presents the latest quarterly data from the Bus Passenger Satisfaction Survey and also includes statistics on bus reliability and bus and light rail patronage. The key points, in seasonally-adjusted terms unless otherwise noted, are as follows. 

  • The index number for bus and light rail journeys in England in the Autumn (October to December) quarter of 2006/07 was 111.6. This was up from the index number of 110.8 in the previous quarter. Free concessionary fare travel on local buses was made available to all English residents on 1 April 2006. The Department's PSA on local public transport is as follows:- By 2010, increase the use of public transport (bus and light rail) by more than 12% in England compared with 2000 levels, with growth in every region.
  • The index number for bus and light rail journeys in London in Autumn 2006 was 137.2, up from 135.5 in the previous quarter. The index number for English Metropolitan Areas was little changed at 94.2. In contrast, patronage in non-Metropolitan areas rose from 99.8 to 100.9. The rises reflect the introduction of the free concessionary fares policy on 1 April 2006 - London and some Metropolitan areas already provided free fares to their residents before this date.
  • In Autumn 2006, the average score for overall satisfaction given by passengers for the bus journey just completed in England was 80 out of 100. This is one point down on the previous quarter. London recorded a score of 76, also lower than the Summer quarter. The score in Non-Metropolitan areas was unchanged to 84 whereas it was up by one point to 83 in Metropolitan areas.
  • Satisfaction with reliability in England fell by one point from the Summer quarter to 69 out of 100. The score fell by one point in Metropolitan areas to 63 out of 100, and rose by one point in non-Metropolitan areas to 70. The average rating in London was down by one point to 72.
  • Satisfaction with bus stop information in England was unchanged at 70 out of 100. The score was also unchanged in Metropolitan areas at 66 whereas it rose by one point in non-Metropolitan areas to a record score of 68. These values relate to a target agreed with the bus industry, under which operators in England will seek to achieve year-on-year improvement in information at bus stops, based on DfT national passenger satisfaction survey ratings during the period 2000 to 2010.
  • The proportion of scheduled mileage run excluding losses outside the operators' control in England was 99.0 per cent. The department has agreed a target with the bus industry to run 99.5 per cent of scheduled route mileage, except where this is affected by factors beyond their control.

Notes

Statistics Bulletin (07)09 Bus and Light Rail Statistics GB: October to December 2006 is available from: Department for Transport, Statistics Travel
Zone 3/09, Great Minster House
76 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DR

Public transport statistics can be viewed by following the links from the following website address: http://www.dft.gov.uk/transtat/publictransport

The targets agreed with the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) are set out in a press release from the former DTLR on 30 July 2002 (News Release 2002/0170).

Details can be found at the following website address: http://www.press.dtlr.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2002_0170

Publication details

Published on 15 March 2007 by Transport Statistics.

Available by telephone order on +44 (0)20 7944 3076.

The next quarterly bulletin in this series will be published on Thursday 14 June 2007.
E-mail: bus.statistics@dft.gov.uk for queries concerning this publication.

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