London Bus Route Usage 2021/2022

[Green Kitten]

Bus Route Usage Data for 2021/2022 is out. Data for the full year.

tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/buses-performance-data

Direct Link:- tfl.gov.uk/cdn/static/cms/documents/2022-annual-bus-stats.xlsx

Top 10 Used Routes (rounded):

1. Route 18 - 10.73 million (=)
2. Route 149 - 10.66 million (=)
3. Route 29 - 9.47 million (=)
4. Route 5 - 8.77 million (+1)
5. Route 25 - 8.47 million (+2)
6. Route 86 - 8.40 million (=)
7. Route 36 - 8.36 million (+3)
8. Route 207 - 8.35 million (=)
9. Route 243 - 8.26 million (new)
10. Route 279 - 8.23 million (-6)

Quite a drop in the list for the 279. Apart from the 243 newly appearing and the 109 dropping down, top 10 routes are pretty much the same.

Top 10 Non-Central London Routes (rounded):

1. Route 5 - 8.77 million (+1)
2. Route 86 - 8.40 million (+1)
3. Route 207 - 8.35 million (+1)
4. Route 279 - 8.23 million (-3)
5. Route 109 - 7.57 million (=)
6. Route 183 - 6.63 million (+2)
7. Route 182 - 6.59 million (=)
8. Route 158 - 6.55 million (+1)
9. Route 140 - 6.47 million (-3)
10. Route 427 - 6.26 million (=)

Top 10 Night Routes (rounded):

1. Route N15 - 981,000 (=)
2. Route N29 - 806,000 (=)
3. Route N25 - 732,000 (+3)
4. Route N207 - 725,000 (=)
5. Route N18 - 723,000 (-2)
6. Route N279 - 602,000 (-1)
7. Route N9 - 594,000 (=)
8. Route N8 - 589,000 (=)
9. Route N98 - 478,000 (=)
10. Route N155 - 466,000 (=)

Top 10 Single-Deck Allocated Routes (rounded) (let me know if I have missed anything on this one). Italics are routes that could take double-decks theoretically:

1. Route 235 - 3.72 million (+1)
2. Route 170 - 3.65 million (+2)
3. Route C10 - 3.41 million (+5)
4. Route W15 - 3.40 million (-3)
5. Route 195 - 3.39 million (-2)
6. Route 316 - 3.27 million (=)
7. Route 276 - 3.17 million (-2)
8. Route 450 - 2.97 million (-1)
9. Route 80 - 2.82 million (due to be fully converted) (+11)
10. Route 358 - 2.81 million (+11)

Route 80, due for a conversion (and having DDs every day) and route 358 jump significantly up the list, bumping route 366 and C11 out of the top 10.

For pedants, if we take route 80 out of the rankings, route 214 is the next route with 2.77 million passengers.

If we consider routes that cannot take double-deckers (assuming routes 214 and 450 can't; I know there has been one odd working on the 214 and route 450 is on the blinds of the HVs), rankings would be as follows:- 170, C10, W15, 276, 450, 358, 214, 108, 366, 112.

Top 10 Usage per Bus km Operated (rounded):

1. Route 330 (6.91) (=)
2. Route 238 (6.81) (=)
3. Route 149 (6.72) (+4)
4. Route W7 (6.44) (+10)
5. Route 104 (6.43) (-1) - may be off the top 10 next year due to new route 304!
6. Route 29 (6.29) (+3)
7. Route 41 (6.19) (-1)
8. Route 98 (6.05) (+11)
9. Route 35 (6.02) (+4)
10. Route 109 (5.96) (-2)

Quite significant rises for route 98 and W7, bumping routes 58, 69 and 279 off the top 10.

Top 10 Least Used Routes (rounded):

1. Route 399 - 7,699 (=)
2. Route 389 - 8,752 (=)
3. Route H3 - 15,212 (+2)
4. Route R10 - 16,66 (=)
5. Route R5 - 17,728 (+2)
6. Route 385 - 24,062 (+3)
7. Route 347 - 25,165 (+1)
8. Route 549 - 36,031 (+2)
9. Route 327 - 38,611 (new)
10. Route R8 - 40,598 (new)

Route 327 and R8 are new entries in the list. Route 456/W10 were both in the bottom last year due to the service changes - though that doesn't really count. Route 456 saw 228,000 journeys this year so looking good for a 2bph route.

Top 10 Least Used Night Routes (counting 'N' route only) (rounded):

1. Route N33 - 36,300 (=)
2. Route N72 - 46,200 (=)
3. Route N381 - 68,151 (=)
4. Route N31 - 82,900 (+4)
5. Route N74 - 84,400 (=)
6. Route N65 - 87,900 (+3)
7. Route N28 - 90,200 (+5)
8. Route N27 - 90,700 (-4)
9. Route N113 - 99,000 (-3)
10. Route N242 - 103,400 (-3)

If all night routes are counted (including night elements of 24-hour routes), ranking is as follows:- 472, 213, N33, 365, 474, N72, 119, 85, 321, 264.

Top 10 Least Used Double-Deck Allocated Routes (rounded):

1. Route 467 - 109,000 (=)
2. Route X68 - 215,000 (=)
3. Route 481 - 339,000 (new) - recent conversion.
4. Route 412 - 587,000 (=)
5. Route 317 - 634,000 (=)
6. Route 129 - 651,000 (-3) - surely due to leave this list in next year's report due to the recent extension to Lewisham this year.
7. Route 498 - 683,000 (=)
8. Route 215 - 770,000 (+3)
9. Route 406 - 876,000 (+1)
10. Route 492 - 901,000 (-1)

Next on the list are routes 428, then 335. If you go for high-frequency routes only, the ranking is as follows:- 129, 335, D8, 403, E1, H14, 301, 291, 116, 256.

Top 10 Rises In Rankings - note that this may not mean too much for many cases due to changing travel patterns due to covid. Especially for the Putney routes (the poshos probably weren't allowed to wfh every day this year ) and increased tourism in the case of route 139 (and route 11 which is number 12 on the list).

1. Route 456 (from 663 to 555 - +108) - due to it being introduced recently.
2. Route 110 (from 415 to 315 - +100) - due to the merger with route 391.
3. Route 452 (from 277 to 178 - +99)
4. Route 26 (from 286 to 204 - +82) - surely to increase even more when merged with the 11 (Another hint to any service planners reading the forum - renumber the new 507 to 11 )
5. Route 423 (from 468 to 385 - +73) - something to do with the Heathrow free travel zone?
6=. Route 22 (from 288 to 220 - +68)
6=. Route 74 (from 262 to 194 - +68) - perhaps maybe re-consider the plans for route 74/430?
8. Route 490 (from 342 to 280 - +62)
9. Route 139 (from 220 to 160 - +60) - the promotion of this route as classic London sightseeing must have worked.
10. Route 285 (from 249 to 191 - +58)

(Route 388 and 11 are the next two, one is becoming a merged Frankenstein monster route and one is getting withdrawn (another hint - renumber the new 507 to 11 ))

Top 10 Drops in Rankings

1=. Route 507 (from 386 to 451 - -65) - maybe extending this route then re-numbering it as route 11 might bring it back up?
1=. Route 217 (from 216 to 281 - -65)
3. Route 230 (from 203 to 256 - -53)
4. Route 292 (from 367 to 411 - -44)
5. Route 264 (from 226 to 265 - -39)
6=. Route 245 (from 117 to 154 - -37)
6=. Route 226 (from 224 to 261 - -37)
8. Route W4 (from 231 to 267 - -36)
9. Route C11 (from 211 to 246 - -35)
10=. Route 261 (from 215 to 249 - -34)
10=. Route 260 (from 96 to 130 - -34)
10=. Route 145 (from 134 to 168 - -34)

[enviroPB]

Bar the 18 and 36, most of the top 10 is concentrated in the north eastern quadrant of London. Heck, three out of the top 10 pass through Tottenham!

It'll be interesting to see around the A10 if passengers switch from bus to Overground when it's a 6 minute combined frequency on the Liverpool Street- Edmonton Green section. Apart from Edmonton Green, Bruce Grove and Stoke Newington, all other stations mirroring the A10 are awkward to get to. Buses do still prove a viable, and dare one say a popular alternative.

[WH241]

Those are still very high passenger numbers for the 25 and 86! Amazing when you think these routes run parallel to the Elizabeth Line! Just proves the point that despite good rail links people will still use buses especially in lower income areas such as Newham.

[evergreenadam]

Oct 4, 2022 9:22:10 GMT enviroPB said:

Bar the 18 and 36, most of the top 10 is concentrated in the north eastern quadrant of London. Heck, three out of the top 10 pass through Tottenham!

It'll be interesting to see around the A10 if passengers switch from bus to Overground when it's a 6 minute combined frequency on the Liverpool Street- Edmonton Green section. Apart from Edmonton Green, Bruce Grove and Stoke Newington, all other stations mirroring the A10 are awkward to get to. Buses do still prove a viable, and dare one say a popular alternative.

When is that frequency increase on the Overground likely to happen?

[ADH45258]

Oct 4, 2022 10:01:37 GMT evergreenadam said:

Oct 4, 2022 9:22:10 GMT enviroPB said:

Bar the 18 and 36, most of the top 10 is concentrated in the north eastern quadrant of London. Heck, three out of the top 10 pass through Tottenham!

It'll be interesting to see around the A10 if passengers switch from bus to Overground when it's a 6 minute combined frequency on the Liverpool Street- Edmonton Green section. Apart from Edmonton Green, Bruce Grove and Stoke Newington, all other stations mirroring the A10 are awkward to get to. Buses do still prove a viable, and dare one say a popular alternative.

When is that frequency increase on the Overground likely to happen?

Likely to be at some point after Crossrail is fully running, as it relies on platforms being freed up at Liverpool Street

[greenboy]

Inevitably routes with higher PVR's are at the top, I would think the W7 must be one of the busiest routes on a passenger to bus ratio?

[borneobus]

Thanks for sharing your analysis, trends and commentary - really interesting -

[frank]

Green Kitten great analysis. Very interesting read. Would be interesting to know some of the numbers behind the numbers so to speak. Such as demand splits. For example is most of 25 ridership spread evenly over the whole route, or particularly higher on the common section with 86 (Stratford to Ilford) etc.

[joefrombow]

Oct 4, 2022 13:39:44 GMT frank said:

Green Kitten great analysis. Very interesting read. Would be interesting to know some of the numbers behind the numbers so to speak. Such as demand splits. For example is most of 25 ridership spread evenly over the whole route, or particularly higher on the common section with 86 (Stratford to Ilford) etc.

Crazy just how busy East London is particularly the two trunk roads out East From Canning town and Stratford, Barking Road & Romford Road and the 5 mirrors the District to some degree same as 25 & 86 mirroring Crossrail , also shocked to see the 497 isn't on the least used top 10 list , must be starting to get some riders now .

[LK65EBO]

No surprise to see the 235 at the top for SD. Very crammed during the mornings and afternoons.

[lonmark]

Oh, wondering why route 261 saw passengers decease. I am sure TB staffs know the reason!

[Trafalgax]

Top 30 most used routes like last time (rounded):


1. Route 18 - 10.73 million (=)
2. Route 149 - 10.66 million (=)
3. Route 29 - 9.47 million (=)
4. Route 5 - 8.77 million (+1)
5. Route 25 - 8.47 million (+2)
6. Route 86 - 8.40 million (=)
7. Route 36 - 8.36 million (+3)
8. Route 207 - 8.35 million (=)
9. Route 243 - 8.26 million (+3)
10. Route 279 - 8.23 million (-6)
11. Route 109 - 7.60 million (-2)
12. Route 55 - 7.32 million (+5)
13. Route 35 - 7.20 million (+4)
14. Route 53 - 7.16 million (-3)
15. Route 141 - 6.75 million (+5)
16. Route 43 - 6.71 million (+9)
17. Route 38 - 6.67 million (new)
18. Route 254 - 6.66 million (-5)
19. Route 183 - 6.63 million (-1)
20. Route 182 - 6.58 million (-4)
21. Route 185 - 6.58 million (-3)
22. Route 158 - 6.55 million (-1)
23. Route 140 - 6.47 million (-8)
24. Route 453 - 6.32 million (+3)
25. Route 427 - 6.26 million (-3)
26. Route 253 - 6.24 million (-12)
27. Route 133 - 6.23 million (-1)
28. Route 21 - 6.14 million (new)
29. Route 159 - 6.02 million (new)
30. Route 65 - 6.01 million (new)

Top 30 most used night routes (Rounded):

1. Route N15 - 981,000 (=)
2. Route N29 - 806,000 (=)
3. Route N25 - 732,000 (+3)
4. Route N207 - 725,000 (=)
5. Route N18 - 723,000 (-2)
6. Route N279 - 602,000 (-1)
7. Route N9 - 594,000 (=)
8. Route N8 - 589,000 (=)
9. Route N98 - 478,000 (=)
10. Route N155 - 466,000 (=)
11. Route N87 - 459,000 (=)
12. Route N38 - 423,000 (+1)
13. Route N243 - 350,000 (+3)
14. Route N205 - 338,000 (+10)
15. Route N1 - 338,000 (=)
16. Route N140 - 337,000 (-2)
17. Route N35 - 310,000 (new)
18. Route N68 - 296,000 (-4)
19. Route N63 - 284,000 (=)
20. Route N149 - 283,000 (new)
21. Route N253 - 276,000 (-4)
22. Route N453 - 270,000 (new)
23. Route N133 - 265,000 (+2)
24. Route N14 - 264,000 (new)
25. Route N16 - 257,000 (-7)
26. Route N136 - 256,000 (-5)
27. Route N109 - 256,000 (-5)
28. Route N26 - 255,000 (=)
29. Route N3 - 255,000 (new)
30. Route N73 - 253,000 (-3)

[ilovelondonbuses]

Interesting that route 35’s night service is highlighted in the night routes section. The recent tender result for route 35 also highlighted “N35”. Is the N35 coming back, can anyone confirm?

[ServerKing]

Oct 4, 2022 9:22:10 GMT enviroPB said:

Bar the 18 and 36, most of the top 10 is concentrated in the north eastern quadrant of London. Heck, three out of the top 10 pass through Tottenham!

It'll be interesting to see around the A10 if passengers switch from bus to Overground when it's a 6 minute combined frequency on the Liverpool Street- Edmonton Green section. Apart from Edmonton Green, Bruce Grove and Stoke Newington, all other stations mirroring the A10 are awkward to get to. Buses do still prove a viable, and dare one say a popular alternative.

Passengers have the patience of a saint as they sit in traffic on Bruce Grove (the council have brought in LTNs forcing all onto the main roads, and the light phasing is poor), so surprised the 149 and 243 run as well as they do! 243 is always busy though. I used to just sit on the 149 down to Liverpool Street as the train from Bruce Grove used to take longer with all the stops (though this was pre Overground at the time).

LT's on the 149 are due a refurb though

[BK15AZR]

Oct 4, 2022 18:01:37 GMT ServerKing said:

Oct 4, 2022 9:22:10 GMT enviroPB said:

Bar the 18 and 36, most of the top 10 is concentrated in the north eastern quadrant of London. Heck, three out of the top 10 pass through Tottenham!

It'll be interesting to see around the A10 if passengers switch from bus to Overground when it's a 6 minute combined frequency on the Liverpool Street- Edmonton Green section. Apart from Edmonton Green, Bruce Grove and Stoke Newington, all other stations mirroring the A10 are awkward to get to. Buses do still prove a viable, and dare one say a popular alternative.

Passengers have the patience of a saint as they sit in traffic on Bruce Grove (the council have brought in LTNs forcing all onto the main roads, and the light phasing is poor), so surprised the 149 and 243 run as well as they do! 243 is always busy though. I used to just sit on the 149 down to Liverpool Street as the train from Bruce Grove used to take longer with all the stops (though this was pre Overground at the time).

LT's on the 149 are due a refurb though

The 149 is a route I would usually avoid, as the LTs are always so packed along the route that I struggle to even find a standing space - so can see why it's high on the list. The 243 is nothing better so not surprised to see it in the top 10 either.