A total of 1,837,789 passenger journeys were recorded on public scheduled bus services during 2018, representing an increase of 50,220 passenger journeys or 2.8% compared to 2017.
Deputy Barry Brehaut, President of the Committee for the Environment & Infrastructure said:
“This is the fifth consecutive annual increase recorded on the public bus service and represents a total annual increase in passenger journeys of 482,796 (almost half a million)additional passenger journeys since 2013. This represents an impressive compound annual growth rate of 6.3% over this period.
“The importance of providing a reliable, frequent and timely service is recognised as beingan essential factor in gaining public confidence in the service. Together with the recent acquisition of 34 new ultra-low emission diesel buses, the provision of improved passenger facilities at the bus terminus and at various other locations around the Island, the bus service is looking to continue attracting passenger growth in 2019 and beyond.”
Passenger journeys in all four quarters of 2018 were the highest recorded since records in the current format were introduced.
Director of Traffic and Highway Services, Karl Guille, said:
“Bus passenger journeys in the summer months can be heavily influenced by fluctuations in the numbers of tourists and, in particular, cruise ship passengers visiting the island. In August of this year monthly passenger journeys peaked at 209,130 easily surpassing lastyear’s record monthly total for August of 203,997 passenger journeys.”
“However, it is in the ‘shoulder’ months where the most passenger growth has been witnessed with passenger journeys in January, February, November and December 2018 rising by a combined average of 4.8%. This is particularly encouraging as passenger journeys in these core winter months are largely undertaken by the resident population.”
Modest growth has been experienced across many fare types in 2018 with the number of fare paying passengers rising by 42,705 (3.2%), student users up by 5,753 (3.1%) and concessions (OAPs) up by 3,944 (1.6%).
The Nightowl services operated on three routes on Friday and Saturday evenings continue to be popular with an additional 3,355 passengers using the service in 2018 representing a growth rate of 15%.
The number of fare paying passengers using Smart Card products increased by 72,832 (13%) in 2018 with the corresponding number of people paying by cash reducing by 30,127 (4%).
