Bus passenger numbers highest since pandemic

Passengers have returned to using buses in their highest numbers across Lancashire since the Covid-19 pandemic.

More than 40 million bus journeys were taken in the county in the 2023/24 financial year, the county council said.

Passenger numbers on these services have surged by 50% since 2019/20.

Bus use has also been boosted by a government initiative offering a maximum fare of just £2 for any single journey, which has been extended to December.

In May, it was announced that all adult fares on all Sunday services would be reduced to £1 as part of a more than £7m package of improvements recently agreed the county council's cabinet and Enhanced Partnership Board, with new funding from the government in support of its Bus Service Improvement Plan.

County Councillor Rupert Swarbrick, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "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 at evening and weekends."

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