Public transport

Public transport satisfaction

Satisfaction with public transport rose in 2023 (64% of respondents said they were very or fairly satisfied) compared to 2022 (58%), but was lower than in 2019 and prior years. [Table 4]

Satisfaction was higher amongst actual users of public transport (those that had used bus or train in the past month) with 74% of users reporting that they were satisfied in 2023. [Table 4b]

Satisfaction with public transport was lowest in rural areas. Satisfaction rates for those living in remote rural and accessible rural areas (47% and 46% respectively) contrasted with a satisfaction rate of 72% for those living in large urban areas.

Local bus services

38% of survey respondents had used the bus in the past month. The percentage using the bus everyday or almost every day was 7%. This was an increase on 2022 (5%), but still lower than in 2019 and prior years. [Table SUM1, Table 28a]

Frequency of bus use was higher in urban areas: 56% of people in large urban areas used the bus at least once a month compared to 17% in remote rural areas. [Table 28a and Figure 15]

A bar chart showing the percentage of adults using the bus by urban rural category. 56% of people in large urban areas and this declines the more rural the category.
Figure 15: Percentage of adults using the bus at least once a month, by urban rural category, 2023

Views on bus services

Bus users were asked whether they agreed with a number of statements about their bus service. They were most likely to agree that they felt safe or secure on the bus during the day (95% of users agreed), but were less likely to agree that they felt safe or secure using the bus during the evening (70%). Less than two thirds (62%) of users agreed that fares were good value. Almost a quarter of users (24%) disagreed that buses run to timetable. [Table 29 and Figure 16]

A bar chart showing the percentages of bus users agreeing with statements about their bus service. �Bus fares are good value� is the lowest.
Figure 16: Percentage of bus users agreeing with statements on their bus service 2023

Rail travel

Over a quarter (28%) of survey respondents had used the train in the last month, which is an increase from 24% in the previous year. [Table 28b, Table SUM1]

The proportion of people who reported that they had used the train in the last month decreased with age: 38% of those aged 16-19 and 39% aged 20-29 had used the train in the last month, compared to 15% aged 70 to 79 and 6% of those aged 80 and over. [Table 28b and Figure 17]

A bar chart showing the percentage of adults using the train by age band. People under 30 use the train the most and usage declines with increasing age.
Figure 17: Percentage of adults using the train at least once in the past month by age, 2023

Of those who had used the train in the last month, the most frequent journey purpose was visiting friends or relatives (31%) followed by shopping (30%). [Table 44]

Views on rail services

Rail users were asked whether they agreed with a number of statements about their rail services. A high percentage of rail users agreed that they felt safe or secure using the train during the day (96%). A third of rail users (33%) disagreed that train fares were good value. [Table 30 and Figure 18]

A bar chart showing the percentage of adults using the train by age band. People under 30 use the train the most and usage declines with increasing age.
Figure 18: Percentage of rail users agreeing with statements on their train service, 2023

Public transport cost

The average amount spent by an adult on public transport in 2023 was £2.80 per week. Most people (82%) spent nothing. This includes those who do not use public transport and holders of a pass for free travel. [Table 53]

For those who said they used public transport at least once a week, the average spent was £7.40 per week and 56% spent nothing (this will include free pass holders). [Table 53]

Affordability of transport

70% of people said their transport costs were either fairly easy or very easy to afford. This is an increase from 2022 (64%).

Those in households on incomes up to £10,000 were less likely to consider their costs affordable (57%). [Table 54]

54% of respondents said that transport costs affected the method of travel they used. [Table 55]