The Public Transport Statistics Northern Ireland 2023-24 statistical report has been published today

This report presents statistics on public transport operated by Translink in Northern Ireland, and it brings together information on public transport journeys, vehicles and staff.

This is an official statistics report on public transport operated by Translink and it is produced annually by Analysis, Statistics and Research Branch (ASRB). It brings together information from Translink on public transport journeys, vehicles and staff.

The publication is available on the DfI website at: Public Transport Statistics Northern Ireland 2023-24 | Department for Infrastructure (infrastructure-ni.gov.uk)

KEY POINTS

Public Transport Journeys

• In 2023-24, there were 78.2 million journeys on public transport; this was an increase of 4.8 million or 6.5% since 2022-23, but a decrease of 6.2% from 2019-20 (83.4 million).
• During 2023-24, there were, 64.4 million bus passenger journeys, an increase of 6.3% when compared with 2022-23 (60.6 million), but a decrease of 5.6% from 2019-20 (68.3 million journeys).
• There were 13.8 million rail passenger journeys in 2023-24, an increase of 7.1% when compared with 2022-23 (12.9 million) but a decrease of 8.5% from 2019-20 (15.1 million).
• In March 2024, the number of bus passenger journeys reached its highest monthly level since the beginning of the pandemic with 7.8 million journeys. In the same month, rail passenger journeys reached a post-pandemic peak of 1.55 million.

Public Transport Vehicles

At the end of March 2024:

• there were 1,070 Ulsterbuses, 288 Metro buses and 34 Gliders in operation which were, on average, 9.4 years, 7.1 years, and 5.5 years old respectively.
• 44 Ulsterbuses and 103 Metro buses were zero emission vehicles, accounting for 10.6% of all buses in operation.
• all 34 Gliders were diesel hybrid vehicles, accounting for 2.4% of all buses in operation.
• there were 164 rail carriages in operation, with an average age of 18 years.

Public Transport Staff

• The full-time equivalent (FTE) number of staff employed by Translink in 2023-24 was 4,156, an increase of 3.9% on the number of staff in 2022-23 (4,000); 2,997 of those staff were in connection with buses (72.1%) and 1,159 with rail (27.9%).

Notes to editors: 

1. This is an official statistics report on public transport operated by Translink and it is produced annually by Analysis, Statistics and Research Branch (ASRB). It brings together information from Translink on public transport journeys, vehicles and staff.
2. The statistics are based on information and data sourced from Translink’s administrative systems.
3. The statistical report has been produced in accordance with the Code of Practice for Statistics, complying with the pillars of Trustworthiness, Quality and Value. You can find further information about the Code of Practice at: Statistics Authority
4. All media queries should be directed to the Department for Infrastructure Press Office at: press.office@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk.
5. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.
6. Follow the Department on X @deptinfra on Facebook @DepartmentforInfrastructure and on LinkedIn at DfILinkedIn.
7. Additional Information
8. For more information relating to this publication, including alternative formats, please contact:

• Telephone: (028) 9054 0099       
• E-mail: ASRB@nisra.gov.uk
• Website: https://www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/topics/dfi-statistics-and-research

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