Record passengers for Lothian

Lothian Buses carried 4.6m extra passengers in 2013 taking usage to a 25 year high, according to new figures from the operator. Patronage increased by 4.2% from 110.7m in 2012 to 115.4m last year. The company also saw strong growth in season ticket sales, Edinburgh Bus Tours and its rebranded Nightbus service. It saw season ticket sales rise 8.6% with growth in all ticket categories, 37,000 downloads of its journey planner app and 74,000 mobile e-tickets sold between their launch in November and the end of the year. There was a recorded growth of 10.6% in passenger numbers on Service 1, which uses new hybrid buses, along with a rise in patronage of 7% on Service 100 (Airlink), mirroring continued success at Edinburgh Airport and a rise of 23.9% in passenger numbers on Service 113 to East Lothian introduced in 2012.

Chief Executive, Ian Craig, said, ‘We’ve been really pleased by the increased patronage of our buses over the course of the past year and these figures show the appetite for good quality public transport. It’s especially positive news as we prepare to offer residents, workers and visitors more choice and capacity through integrated bus and tram services. A thriving public transport system is vital for everyone who needs to move around Edinburgh, and our commercial success also means that we can continue to positively contribute to the public purse through dividends to our shareholders. Our high levels of customer satisfaction and strong commercial performance is a testament to the quality of our people who day in, day out deliver an exceptionally well regarded service to our customers. 2014 will be a big year for Scotland and Transport for Edinburgh. Many eyes will be focused on the long awaited arrival of the tram and we’re excited to be playing a key role as the operator.’