In 2024/25, local bus services in England outside London recorded approximately 1.85 billion passenger journeys. This figure represents a recovery to 93.3% of the levels seen in 2019/20, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the same period, bus service mileage recovered to 86.0% of pre-pandemic levels. Consequently, the number of passenger journeys per service mile increased by about 8.5% compared to the period before the pandemic.
The Bus Services Act 2025 now requires authorities to identify socially necessary services. This legislation aims to prevent the withdrawal of routes that are critical for access to employment, essential goods, or social activities.
Fleet electrification is currently a major factor in urban transit planning. The deployment of battery-electric buses necessitates long-term investments in depots, charging infrastructure, and grid connections.
The report titled The Bus Is Not the System highlights that while competition can improve operational efficiency, authorities must maintain a centralized approach to planning routes and infrastructure to ensure network utility.
