Press Release 06/09/2007, in case any of you want to discuss.
Department for Transport (National)
(DFT) Public Transport Statistics Bulletin: Great Britain 2007 edition
The Department for Transport has today published National Statistics on public transport in Public Transport Statistics Bulletin: Great Britain 2007 Edition.
The key points are as follows:
* Passenger journeys on local buses in England rose by 4 per cent in the last year. Over the same period, passenger journeys on light rail systems in England increased by 9 per cent.
* The Department's PSA on local public transport is, by 2010, to 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. In the six years to 2006/07, public transport usage increased by 15 per cent.
* In London bus and light rail passenger journeys grew by 6 per cent in the last year, whilst in England outside London it rose by 3 per cent.
* Many of the other regions of England saw increases in the number of bus passenger journeys in the last year, as a result of the introduction of free concessionary bus fares for disabled and older (aged 60+) residents. The largest rise was for the East of England region which saw an 11 per increase in passenger journeys.
* There was an increase in the percentage of low floor buses up from 50 per cent in 2005/06 to 58 per cent in 2006/07. The target agreed with the bus industry is that 50 per cent of buses should be low floor by 2010.
* The average age of the bus fleet at 31 March 2007 was 8.1 years. At 31 March 2006, it was 8.4 years.
* At 31 March 2007, 45% of buses in Great Britain were fitted with CCTV and 35% in Great Britain outside London were fitted with GPS and other electronic devices for measuring bus punctuality.
* Average local bus fares in GB fell by 3 per cent in real terms in 2006/07, largely as the result of the free bus concessionary fares policy implemented in England on 1 April 2006. In London, where concessionary residents already received the benefit, there was a rise of 5 per cent. For GB outside London, there was a fall of 4 per cent.
* National Rail use increased, with 1.2 billion passenger journeys made in 2006/07, a rise of 8 per cent on the previous year.
* The number of 'blue badge' disabled parking permits issued rose by 4 per cent in the year to 31 March 2007. There are now 45 permits issued per thousand people in England.
* The number of licensed taxis in England rose to over 67 thousand, up 5 per cent since the Department's previous survey for 2004/05.
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Up early today HJ? Or posting from another country?
At first sight, the figures all look pretty good - too good? To good to be true? Bus journeys up 6%, average age of buses down, more low floor buses, more buses with CCTV and GPS, fares fell by 3% in real terms, it just goes on and on!
Public transport usage has gone up significantly by every measurement, it wouldn't be because motorists are fed up with traffic jams - would it?
Does the figure for licensed taxis include private hire vehicles (mini-cabs) presumably not.
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With more passengers I look forward to more capacity (as is obviously required) and lower fares per passenger. Perhaps also better punctuality as the operators take their job of carrying more passengers, more seriously.
I'm sure all of these will be forthcoming :-)
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