London Bus Route Usage 2021/2022

[VMH2537]

These figures are from the 2019/2020 period compared to the latest period on bus usage recovery for the weakest recovered routes:

Top 30 least recovered routes

1. 209: 20.6%
2. 521: 26%
3. 507: 28.1%
4. A10: 52%
5. R8: 54%
6. 327: 54.1%
7. 346: 54.5%
8. H22: 56.6%
9. 140: 56.2%
10. 292: 56.2%
11. 266: 56.3%
12. 389: 56.8%
13. E1: 57%
14. 414: 57.1%
15. X68: 57.4%
16. 129: 57.6%
17. 224: 59%
18. 549: 59%
19. W12: 59.7%
20. 38: 59.9%
21. 52: 60.4%
22. U10: 60.4%
23. 283: 60.8%
24. H2: 61.1%
25. H3: 61.7%
26. 9: 61.2%
27. 138: 61.3%
28. 88: 61.5%
29. 485: 61.5%
30. W9: 62.1%

Top 15 least recovered night routes

1. N285: 51.1%
2. N472: 51.4%
3. N281: 57.2%
4. N266: 59.4%
5. N28: 62.5%
6. N65: 63.3%
7. N139: 66.2%
8. N72: 66.6%
9. N264: 66.9%
10. N220: 67.1%
11. N137: 67.5%
12. N250: 67.6%
13. N171: 68.2%
14. N119: 68.5%
15. N111: 69.7%

Please let me know if any mistakes were made

[VMH2537]

Oct 16, 2022 7:35:25 GMT VMH2537 said:

These figures are from the 2019/2020 period compared to the latest period on bus usage recovery for the weakest recovered routes:

Top 30 least recovered routes

1. 209: 20.6%
2. 521: 26%
3. 507: 28.1%
4. A10: 52%
5. R8: 54%
6. 327: 54.1%
7. 346: 54.5%
8. H22: 56.6%
9. 140: 56.2%
10. 292: 56.2%
11. 266: 56.3%
12. 389: 56.8%
13. E1: 57%
14. 414: 57.1%
15. X68: 57.4%
16. 129: 57.6%
17. 224: 59%
18. 549: 59%
19. W12: 59.7%
20. 38: 59.9%
21. 52: 60.4%
22. U10: 60.4%
23. 283: 60.8%
24. H2: 61.1%
25. H3: 61.7%
26. 9: 61.2%
27. 138: 61.3%
28. 88: 61.5%
29. 485: 61.5%
30. W9: 62.1%

Top 15 least recovered night routes

1. N285: 51.1%
2. N472: 51.4%
3. N281: 57.2%
4. N266: 59.4%
5. N28: 62.5%
6. N65: 63.3%
7. N139: 66.2%
8. N72: 66.6%
9. N264: 66.9%
10. N220: 67.1%
11. N137: 67.5%
12. N250: 67.6%
13. N171: 68.2%
14. N119: 68.5%
15. N111: 69.7%

Please let me know if any mistakes were made

Quoting myself, I am almost certain most of these routes will be under review for service requirements. Some are already being amended such as the 521/507.

[wirewiper]

Oct 16, 2022 2:20:02 GMT borneobus said:

londonbuses very interesting statistics particularly the decrease in route pax performance - you provided some analysis - great if you or others could provide casuals - I’ll weigh in with a few (semi) educated guesses…

507/521 - reduction due City workers “working from home” (WFH)
X68 ditto

A10 - here’s a real punt - increase in Stockley Park workers WFH who would have travelled to Heathrow Central on LU and then A10

140 - pax shifting to X140

E1 traffic is mainly feed off rail pax to Ealing Broadway - again more WFH

Can anyone come up with causals for 346 / U10 - I have a perception that both predominantly contain ‘shopping’ journeys, often by seniors to Upminister and Uxbridge/Ruislip respectively - is this people of this demographic now more reluctant / less inclined to travel to shops and order from supermarkets - Amazon etc

Yes, shopping-type services are very definitely suffering from the downturn in concessionary pass use. In England overall it has only recovered to around 60% of pre-covid levels. Don't forget this still represents lost income for operators as they are reimbursed for each journey made using a concessionary pass. 

The Government was quick enough to scare everyone off from using buses (and trains) during the pandemic but there has been no sustained, Government-led campaigning to get people back on board or convince them that it is safe. 

[greenboy]

Oct 16, 2022 8:00:05 GMT wirewiper said:

Oct 16, 2022 2:20:02 GMT borneobus said:

londonbuses very interesting statistics particularly the decrease in route pax performance - you provided some analysis - great if you or others could provide casuals - I’ll weigh in with a few (semi) educated guesses…

507/521 - reduction due City workers “working from home” (WFH)
X68 ditto

A10 - here’s a real punt - increase in Stockley Park workers WFH who would have travelled to Heathrow Central on LU and then A10

140 - pax shifting to X140

E1 traffic is mainly feed off rail pax to Ealing Broadway - again more WFH

Can anyone come up with causals for 346 / U10 - I have a perception that both predominantly contain ‘shopping’ journeys, often by seniors to Upminister and Uxbridge/Ruislip respectively - is this people of this demographic now more reluctant / less inclined to travel to shops and order from supermarkets - Amazon etc

Yes, shopping-type services are very definitely suffering from the downturn in concessionary pass use. In England overall it has only recovered to around 60% of pre-covid levels. Don't forget this still represents lost income for operators as they are reimbursed for each journey made using a concessionary pass. 

The Government was quick enough to scare everyone off from using buses (and trains) during the pandemic but there has been no sustained, Government-led campaigning to get people back on board or convince them that it is safe. 

Pre pandemic shopping online was still in its infancy, now it's pretty much the norm. I'm certainly not surprised about the downturn in concessionary pass use, for many people there's no need to go into town anymore by bus or otherwise.

[VMH2537]

Oct 16, 2022 2:20:02 GMT borneobus said:

londonbuses very interesting statistics particularly the decrease in route pax performance - you provided some analysis - great if you or others could provide casuals - I’ll weigh in with a few (semi) educated guesses…

507/521 - reduction due City workers “working from home” (WFH)
X68 ditto

A10 - here’s a real punt - increase in Stockley Park workers WFH who would have travelled to Heathrow Central on LU and then A10

140 - pax shifting to X140

E1 traffic is mainly feed off rail pax to Ealing Broadway - again more WFH

Can anyone come up with causals for 346 / U10 - I have a perception that both predominantly contain ‘shopping’ journeys, often by seniors to Upminister and Uxbridge/Ruislip respectively - is this people of this demographic now more reluctant / less inclined to travel to shops and order from supermarkets - Amazon etc

I think cases such as the U10 and the 346 are what happens if you don't provide an adequate service to attract users. The 346 somehow doesn't have a Sunday service dispute having 4bph for its peak frequency. Cases I have analysed such as the 549 and the H3 haven't recovered well either with both having limited services. Whilst yes, the rise of online shopping may have changed habits and decreased demand, we are still not certain it's the case with most trunk routes recovering around 70 to 80% in Outer London.

[LondonNorthern]

The reason for the 266 having a bad recovery is mostly likely due to custom lost to the 218, 306 and 440. The 292 is the same, I should imagine some local demand has been lost on the section between Stirling Corner and Edgware to the 384. It’s no question either that the H22 reroute away from Richmond wasn’t a good idea and that it’s decrease in patronage could be partially attributed to that.

I think the reason why lots of shopping-based routes had such bad recoveries is mainly due to the demographic using them. You have to remember this data sample is from April 2021 to April 2022, there were still restrictions imposed for almost that entire data sample (masks only came off around February) and the general consensus was that elderly people should stay home and protect themselves. Therefore it’s a major contributing factor as to why perhaps the H2 and H3 have had such bad recovery.

I will be totally honest here - I wouldn’t take this data as godly. I think the more representative data going forward will be April 2022 to April 2023 as no doubt bus usage started to increase again at the latter end of last year and into 2022 when it stayed fairly stagnant throughout 2021 leaving the March lockdown.

[Deleted]

Oct 16, 2022 8:27:53 GMT LondonNorthern said:

The reason for the 266 having a bad recovery is mostly likely due to custom lost to the 218, 306 and 440. The 292 is the same, I should imagine some local demand has been lost on the section between Stirling Corner and Edgware to the 384. It’s no question either that the H22 reroute away from Richmond wasn’t a good idea and that it’s decrease in patronage could be partially attributed to that.

I think the reason why lots of shopping-based routes had such bad recoveries is mainly due to the demographic using them. You have to remember this data sample is from April 2021 to April 2022, there were still restrictions imposed for almost that entire data sample (masks only came off around February) and the general consensus was that elderly people should stay home and protect themselves. Therefore it’s a major contributing factor as to why perhaps the H2 and H3 have had such bad recovery.

I will be totally honest here - I wouldn’t take this data as godly. I think the more representative data going forward will be April 2022 to April 2023 as no doubt bus usage started to increase again at the latter end of last year and into 2022 when it stayed fairly stagnant throughout 2021 leaving the March lockdown.

In terms of the H22, it's definitely the re-routing from Richmond that contributed to the massive decrease in usage. 
Before the pandemic, the route was well served carrying healthy loads to Richmond, reducing the load from the 490 and R70 which now both increased as a result. The 490 especially was greatly impacted from the change which is why it became one of the fastest growing single decker routes.
I don't get why they prioritised the original 110 route over the H22 route when the former has the 267 to assist. 

[londonbuses]

Oct 16, 2022 5:39:45 GMT uakari said:

Is the percentage quoted the percentage loss/gain of passengers, or is it current passenger numbers as a percentage of what they were in 2018/19?

Current passenger numbers as a percentage of what they were in 2018/19. Couldn't figure out how to phrase it in my original post.

[vjaska]

Oct 16, 2022 0:32:54 GMT londonbuses said:

Top 30 routes with the highest percentage change of usage (have gained the most passengers) since 2018/19 (the last available period on the data that was unaffected by COVID):

1. Route 404 - 158.12% (Frequency doubled, Sunday service added, and route extended)

2. Route 110 - 152.17% (Merged with 391)
3. Route 423 - 126.82%
4. Route 419 - 118.35% (Hammersmith Bridge closure)
5. Route 112 - 107.42%
6. Route 440 - 107.02%
7. Route 425 - 105.49%
8. Route 384 - 98.85%
9. Route 289 - 97.42%
10. Route 125 - 91.90%
11. Route 26 - 91.76%
12. Route 490 - 90.19%
13. Route 90 - 89.56%
14. Route 35 - 88.84%
15. Route 232 - 88.74%
16. Route EL1 - 87.59%
17. Route 60 - 87.45%
18. Route 158 - 87.04%
19. Route H26 - 86.78%
20. Route 287 - 85.48%
21. Route 482 - 84.48%
22. Route 127 - 84.20%
23. Route 175 - 84.06%
24. Route EL2 - 83.53%
25. Route 303 - 83.40%
26. Route 318 - 83.22%
27. Route 130 - 82.04%
28. Route 453 - 81.81%
29. Route 372 - 81.73%
30. Route 314 - 81.70%

Top 30 routes with the lowest percentage change of usage (have lost the most passengers) since 2018/19 (the last available period on the data that was unaffected by COVID):

1. Route 209 - 7.42% (Hammersmith Bridge closure)
2. Route 507 - 25.78%
3. Route 521 - 26.69%
4. Route 72 - 29.21% (Hammersmith Bridge closure)
5. Route 45 - 38.74%
6. Route 485 - 47.27% (Hammersmith Bridge closure)
7. Route 266 - 47.73%
8. Route 67 - 48.35%
9. Route 140 - 48.52%
10. Route 224 - 49.04%
11. Route 327 - 49.09%
12. Route A10 - 49.11%
13. Route 27 - 49.38%
14. Route R8 - 51.60%
15. Route 134 - 51.96%
16. Route 346 - 52.10%
17. Route E1 - 52.49%
18. Route X68 - 52.95%
19. Route 25 - 53.06%
20. Route 414 - 53.28%
21. Route 33 - 53.53% (Hammersmith Bridge closure)
22. Route 476 - 54.05%
23. Route H22 - 54.63%
24. Route U10 - 54.82%
25. Route 268 - 54.88%
26. Route 4 - 55.11%
27. Route 292 - 55.24%
28. Route 412 - 55.44%
29. Route 299 - 55.88%
30. Route 433 - 55.92%

There’s another quite obvious pattern here that I’ve picked up on - the top 10 highest change is mainly routes that had extensions, re-routings and/or frequency increases in the last few years whilst the top 10 lowest change is mainly routes that have been cut back or frequency cut in the last few years which really shows what happens when you make a positive change and when you make unnecessary, detrimental ones

[Trafalgax]

Top 30 Usage per Bus km Operated (rounded):

This basically means routes that are more likely to be overcrowded as a whole or it could be interpreted as how many people use a route per bus stop.


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)
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)
11. Route 58 (5.82)
12. Route 69 (5.80)
13. Route 18 (5.60)
14. Route 25 (5.43)
15. Route 279 (5.40)
16. Route 115 (5.39)
17. Route 220 (5.31)
18. Route EL1 (5.29)
19. Route 147 (5.23)
20. Route 243 (5.21)
21. Route 67 (5.18)
22. Route 253 (5.14)
23. Route 16 (5.14)
24. Route 32 (5.12)
25. Route 44 (5.12)
26. Route 133 (5.12)
27. Route 141 (5.08)
28. Route 254 (5.06)
29. Route 205 (5.06)
30. Route 250 (5.01)


Top 30 Usage per Night Bus km Operated (rounded):


1. Route (N)35 (3.09)
2. Route (N)149 (2.79)
3. Route N205 (2.43)
4. Route (N)243 (2.36)
5. Route N279 (2.31)
6. Route (N)238 (2.28)
7. Route (N)453 (2.23)
8. Route N155 (2.16)
9. Route N18 (2.08)
10. Route (N)12 (2.02)
11. Route N109 (2.02)
12. Route N207 (1.97)
13. Route N25 (1.95)
14. Route (N)69 (1.93)
15. Route N63 (1.90)
16. Route N253 (1.90)
17. Route N29 (1.88)
18. Route N15 (1.88)
19. Route N2 (1.84)
20. Route N9 (1.82)
21. Route N133 (1.81)
22. Route N38 (1.81)
23. Route (N)159 (1.81)
24. Route (N)176 (1.75)
25. Route N16 (1.71)
26. Route (N)36 (1.69)
27. Route (N)148 (1.68)
28. Route N73 (1.66)
29. Route N250 (1.61)
30. Route N8 (1.59)

[capitalomnibus]

Oct 16, 2022 14:02:53 GMT Trafalgax said:

Top 30 Usage per Bus km Operated (rounded):

This basically means routes that are more likely to be overcrowded as a whole or it could be interpreted as how many people use a route per bus stop.


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)
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)
11. Route 58 (5.82)
12. Route 69 (5.80)
13. Route 18 (5.60)
14. Route 25 (5.43)
15. Route 279 (5.40)
16. Route 115 (5.39)
17. Route 220 (5.31)
18. Route EL1 (5.29)
19. Route 147 (5.23)
20. Route 243 (5.21)
21. Route 67 (5.18)
22. Route 253 (5.14)
23. Route 16 (5.14)
24. Route 32 (5.12)
25. Route 44 (5.12)
26. Route 133 (5.12)
27. Route 141 (5.08)
28. Route 254 (5.06)
29. Route 205 (5.06)
30. Route 250 (5.01)


Top 30 Usage per Night Bus km Operated (rounded):


1. Route (N)35 (3.09)
2. Route (N)149 (2.79)
3. Route N205 (2.43)
4. Route (N)243 (2.36)
5. Route N279 (2.31)
6. Route (N)238 (2.28)
7. Route (N)453 (2.23)
8. Route N155 (2.16)
9. Route N18 (2.08)
10. Route (N)12 (2.02)
11. Route N109 (2.02)
12. Route N207 (1.97)
13. Route N25 (1.95)
14. Route (N)69 (1.93)
15. Route N63 (1.90)
16. Route N253 (1.90)
17. Route N29 (1.88)
18. Route N15 (1.88)
19. Route N2 (1.84)
20. Route N9 (1.82)
21. Route N133 (1.81)
22. Route N38 (1.81)
23. Route (N)159 (1.81)
24. Route (N)176 (1.75)
25. Route N16 (1.71)
26. Route (N)36 (1.69)
27. Route (N)148 (1.68)
28. Route N73 (1.66)
29. Route N250 (1.61)
30. Route N8 (1.59)

The strange thing about this, many of these routes are in the upcoming firing line for changes.

[Trafalgax]

Someone also requested for me to do a top 30 busiest single decker routes so here it is (rounded):

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)
11. Route 214 - 2.77 million
12. Route 108 - 2.76 million
13. Route 366 - 2.76 million
14. Route 112 - 2.73 million
15. Route 184 - 2.66 million
16. Route 46 - 2.65 million
17. Route 355 - 2.64 million
18. Route 493 - 2.61 million
19. Route C11 - 2.60 million
20. Route 236 - 2.60 million
21. Route D6 - 2.59 million
22. Route E6 - 2.53 million
23. Route 181 - 2.47 million
24. Route 151 - 2.46 million
25. Route 289 - 2.45 million
26. Route 226 - 2.44 million 
27. Route 70 - 2.42 million
28. Route 192 - 2.41 million
29. Route W4 - 2.41 million
30. Route H37 - 2.40 million

If this list didn't include routes that have used DD buses, after H37 would be 410, following that would be 244,39,33,95,490,232 and 227.


Top 30 busiest night route single deck...... oh wait.

[abellion]

Is it really fair to count the 80 in the SDO lists? A lot of the time including right now it’s using more or around the same amount of double decks compared to single decks.

[southlondon413]

Oct 16, 2022 15:38:09 GMT Trafalgax said:

Someone also requested for me to do a top 30 busiest single decker routes so here it is (rounded):

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)
11. Route 214 - 2.77 million
12. Route 108 - 2.76 million
13. Route 366 - 2.76 million
14. Route 112 - 2.73 million
15. Route 184 - 2.66 million
16. Route 46 - 2.65 million
17. Route 355 - 2.64 million
18. Route 493 - 2.61 million
19. Route C11 - 2.60 million
20. Route 236 - 2.60 million
21. Route D6 - 2.59 million
22. Route E6 - 2.53 million
23. Route 181 - 2.47 million
24. Route 151 - 2.46 million
25. Route 289 - 2.45 million
26. Route 226 - 2.44 million 
27. Route 70 - 2.42 million
28. Route 192 - 2.41 million
29. Route W4 - 2.41 million
30. Route H37 - 2.40 million

If this list didn't include routes that have used DD buses, after H37 would be 410, following that would be 244,39,33,95,490,232 and 227.


Top 30 busiest night route single deck...... oh wait.

The 151 isn’t single decker and hasn’t been since 2002. I also wouldn’t include the 80 as it has spent much of the period with a partial DD allocation. Likewise the 355, although not an official conversion, it has also had a temporary DD allocation for most of the period.

[Trafalgax]

Oct 16, 2022 16:21:20 GMT southlondon413 said:

Oct 16, 2022 15:38:09 GMT Trafalgax said:

Someone also requested for me to do a top 30 busiest single decker routes so here it is (rounded):

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)
11. Route 214 - 2.77 million
12. Route 108 - 2.76 million
13. Route 366 - 2.76 million
14. Route 112 - 2.73 million
15. Route 184 - 2.66 million
16. Route 46 - 2.65 million
17. Route 355 - 2.64 million
18. Route 493 - 2.61 million
19. Route C11 - 2.60 million
20. Route 236 - 2.60 million
21. Route D6 - 2.59 million
22. Route E6 - 2.53 million
23. Route 181 - 2.47 million
24. Route 151 - 2.46 million
25. Route 289 - 2.45 million
26. Route 226 - 2.44 million 
27. Route 70 - 2.42 million
28. Route 192 - 2.41 million
29. Route W4 - 2.41 million
30. Route H37 - 2.40 million

If this list didn't include routes that have used DD buses, after H37 would be 410, following that would be 244,39,33,95,490,232 and 227.


Top 30 busiest night route single deck...... oh wait.

The 151 isn’t single decker and hasn’t been since 2002. I also wouldn’t include the 80 as it has spent much of the period with a partial DD allocation. Likewise the 355, although not an official conversion, it has also had a temporary DD allocation for most of the period.

Alright thanks for letting me know about 151 I’ll correct it. As for the 80 and 355, I’m just following on from what Green Kitten started. He included the 80 in the top 10 so I thought the others would be acceptable.