UK Bus Market
Bus travel is the most frequently used mode of public transport.
Accounting for two-thirds of all public transport journeys, buses are the backbone of the local transport network.
Bus volumes were in decline from the 1950s to the early 1990s as car ownership widened and investment in public transport declined.
However, as the graph below shows, bus travel has increased over recent years with a significant amount of the passenger growth coming from London. Customer satisfaction rates continue to grow and are now at record highs of over 80%.
UK long term bus volume trends
UK deregulated bus market share
Deregulation of the bus industry (outside of London) in 1987 made it possible for any company to begin operating a commercial service. Generally, operators can set their own fares and timetables. Local Authorities will tender services which are not commerical to run but deemed socially necessary.
Go-Ahead’s strategy is to focus its bus operations in dense urban markets where commercially funded businesses' provide a comprehensive network of bus routes, offering good value and ease of use for both commuter and leisure travel. We believe that important factors for operating successfully include providing high quality and punctual services and having strong local relationships with customers and local authorities. Less than 10% of our bus business outside London is tendered.
Go-Ahead is one of the UK's largest bus operators. We operate 3,800 buses and around 1.7 million people travel on our buses every day.
Find out more about our bus operations.
Find out more about our bus markets in our annual report