Public transport usage still well down on pre-pandemic figures

Scottish Liberal Democrat transport spokesperson Daniel O’Malley has today said that the SNP Government have used the pandemic to permanently downgrade public transport as new figures showed that public transport usage is still well down on pre-pandemic levels.

Scottish Transport Statistics published today show that in 2023-24, the number of bus journeys was still 7% lower than pre-pandemic, while the number of rail journeys was 16% lower than in 2019-20 and the number of ferry journeys was down 7% compared to 2019.

Meanwhile road traffic has returned to 99% of pre-pandemic levels.

Mr O’Malley said:

“While road traffic has bounced back from the pandemic, it seems like public transport has been given a permanent downgrade.

“If services aren’t affordable and convenient people simply won’t use them. Instead they will rely on more polluting alternatives like driving and flying.

“Scottish Liberal Democrats have set out extensive plans to make our public transport more affordable and more accessible. We want to see new two/ three day a week season tickets on trains, reliable ferries and communities put in charge of where and when buses go.”