Hold onto your bus tickets, folks! More than 40 million bus journeys were taken in Lancashire over the last year. That’s right, we’re seeing a bus resurgence like it’s the hottest comeback since, well, the bus itself. Passenger numbers have surged by a whopping 50% since the days of pre-pandemic normalcy, along with an impressive rise in the miles bus services in the county are clocking up. Talk about a triumphant return!
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| Lancashire County Council |
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| Lancashire County Council |
Roy, a Ribchester resident, couldn’t hold back his enthusiasm:
“My wife and I use buses regularly and they are a blessing to us. We use them to go to Blackburn and Clitheroe, and the local service is as good as we have ever had it. It’s hourly, serves all the rural routes and I cannot understand why it isn’t used more. Where I live, it’s a sleepy village but the traffic is terrible now; I much prefer the bus.”
Roy is clearly a bus champion!
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| Lancashire County Council |
And he’s not alone! Jean, also from Ribchester, shared her thoughts on the joy of bus travel.
“If you are going for a day out to the seaside or to a local town and you are a driver, it would be much easier to get on a bus. When you drive, the roads are narrow, and you need to find somewhere to park. A regular, reliable service is really important. You use buses when you are on holiday, so why not here, too?”
And let’s not forget Pilkington bus driver Graeme Tonge, who chimed in with his tuppence:
“The more it’s used, the more it will stay. If it’s empty, it’s no good to anyone – so keep using it!”
Now, let’s talk about why hopping on a bus is not just a good idea for your pocket but for our lovely planet too! Buses help reduce emissions and clean up our air, all while cutting congestion and accidents on the roads. Plus, there’s a health bonus! Walking to and from the bus stop can be a sneaky way to hit those daily step goals.
But that’s not all! Bus travel has also received a boost from measures introduced during the cost-of-living crisis. Earlier this year, the government kicked off a brilliant initiative encouraging folks to give buses a go, with all main Lancashire bus operators offering a maximum fare of just £2 for any single journey. And guess what? This deal has been extended to December 2024!
In a cherry-on-top move, it was also announced in May that all adult fares on Sunday services would be slashed to just £1. This matches the bargain price already in place after 7pm, which was introduced to support Lancashire’s evening economy.
The £2 fare initiative is part of a grand £7.025 million package of improvements recently agreed upon by Lancashire County Council’s cabinet and Enhanced Partnership Board, thanks to shiny new funding from the government in support of its Bus Service Improvement Plan.
County Councillor Rupert Swarbrick had this to say:
“It’s so important to us that Lancashire’s residents have access to frequent, reliable and affordable transport that they can rely on for travel to work, access to healthcare and days out. We hope that these fantastic figures will continue to rise as residents continue to return to public transport. We plan to continue creating a network which more people will use for regular journeys, with more services throughout the day, as well as in the evening and on weekends."
The £2 fares have been popular during the cost-of-living crisis. In the 2023/24 financial year, a total of 40.394 million passengers boarded buses in Lancashire, marking a 9% increase compared to the previous year and a 3% rise from pre-pandemic levels.
“Part of this is due to the expansion of supported bus services, fuelled by increased funding from both Lancashire County Council and the government’s Bus Service Improvement Plan. Our Public and Integrated Transport team is optimistic about the future of bus travel in Lancashire, attributing the success to strategic investments and ongoing efforts to improve the bus network.”
Now, let’s break it down with some numbers! The annual figures running to April showcased a 9% increase from the previous year and a 3% rise from the pre-pandemic level. Total bus patronage in the 2023/24 financial year stood at 40.394 million, which represents a 9% increase from 2022/23 and a 3% increase compared to 2019/20. However, it still only hits 92% of 2018/19 levels and a mere 86% of 2016/17 levels.
But here’s the good news: this growth has continued into 2024/25! In the first quarter, patronage has grown by 14% overall, with a dazzling 55% growth on tendered services and 9% on commercial services.
In 2023/24, 4.606 million passengers used services supported by Lancashire County Council, compared to 3.685 million in 2022/23, 3.060 million in 2019/20 and 2.978 million in 2016/17. Prior to service reductions in 2016, patronage on supported services was at 9.556 million in 2014/15.
The 50% growth in travel on supported services since 2019/20 has been fuelled by increased services provided through the Bus Service Improvement Plan funding, along with a rise in the council's own budget for supporting bus services. Miles operated on supported services have seen a staggering increase of 90% since 2019/20 and a whopping 145% since 2016/17.
While patronage on supported services is currently only 48% of 2014/15 levels, miles operated is at 82%. This reflects the kick-start nature of BSIP improvements, meaning patronage has not yet had the chance to reach expected levels.
On the commercial side of things, patronage has grown 8% since 2022/23, sitting at 99% of 2019/20 patronage, 81% of 2016/17 patronage and 88% of 2014/15. But, let’s approach the figures from 2014/15 to 2017/18 with a sprinkle of caution due to the mixed quality of data provided by bus operators at that time.
So there you have it! A bright future ahead for bus travel in Lancashire, filled with more journeys, lower fares and green benefits. So grab your mates, hop on the bus and let’s keep those passenger numbers soaring!
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