Bus industry trading at 60%

Britain’s forward looking bus companies were last week reporting fare-paying passenger levels back to an average of 60% of pre coronavirus levels.

A survey of members of the Ten Per Cent Club gave results ranging from 46% to 74% across the country on commercial services excluding concessionary travel. Concessionary travel on commercial services has recovered to an average of 45% with an even wider range between 18% and 76%.

“The snapshot survey results shows a significant variation across the country, reflecting different characteristics of each local area”, Roger French, Secretary of the Ten Per Cent Club, explained. “It once again emphasises the ‘once size fits all’ approach never applies to the local bus market and managers who know their areas have to adapt to local circumstances.”

Tendered bus routes have seen a more sluggish recovery with the survey showing an average of 43% fare paying passengers and just 34% concessions emphasising the critical importance of continued Government financial support for the industry now and in the months ahead.

Members of the Ten Per Cent Club, which includes managers and directors from across the spectrum of bus companies in Britain have been holding regular virtual meetings over the last six months to share best practice experience as the pandemic has developed. “Our collective knowledge and ideas will be even more important for the challenging six months ahead”, Roger French added, “and we’ll be continuing to share experience of what works best to grow the bus market back to its previous levels.”