Public transport

Public transport satisfaction

Almost two-thirds of respondents (64%) said they were very or fairly satisfied with public transport. This was about the same as in 2023, but lower than in 2019 and prior years. [Table 4]

Satisfaction was a little higher amongst actual users of public transport (those that had used bus or train in the past month) with 70% of users reporting that they were satisfied in 2024. [Table 4b]

Satisfaction with public transport was lowest in rural areas. Satisfaction rates for those living in remote rural and accessible rural areas (43% and 41% respectively) contrasted with a satisfaction rate of 75% for those living in large urban areas.

Local bus services

39% of survey respondents had used the bus in the past month, with 7% using the bus everyday or almost every day. These percentages were about the same as in 2023, but lower than in 2018 and prior years. [Table SUM1, Table 28a]

Frequency of bus use was higher in urban areas: 57% 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 14]

A bar chart showing the percentage of adults using the bus by urban rural category. 57% of people in large urban areas and this declines the more rural the category.
Figure 14: Percentage of adults using the bus at least once a month, by urban rural category, 2024

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 (94% of users agreed), but were less likely to agree that they felt safe or secure using the bus during the evening (67%). Almost two thirds (64%) of users agreed that fares were good value. More than a fifth of users (22%) disagreed that buses run to timetable. [Table 29 and Figure 15]

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 15: Percentage of bus users agreeing with statements on their bus service 2024

Rail travel

31% of survey respondents had used the train in the last month. This is an increase from 28% in 2023. Most of the increase has been in usage once or twice a month. [Table 28b, Table SUM1]

The proportion of people who reported that they had used the train in the last month decreased with age: 42% of those aged 16-19 and 43% aged 20-29 had used the train in the last month, compared to 18% aged 70 to 79 and 6% of those aged 80 and over. [Table 28b and Figure 16]

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 16: Percentage of adults using the train at least once in the past month by age, 2024

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 (97%). Almost a third of rail users (31%) disagreed that train fares were good value. [Table 30 and Figure 17]

A bar chart showing the percentages of train users agreeing with statements about their bus service. “Train fares are good value” is the lowest.
Figure 17: Percentage of rail users agreeing with statements on their train service, 2024

Public transport cost

The average amount spent by an adult on public transport in 2024 was £4.60 per week. Most people (79%) 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 £9.60 per week and 54% spent nothing (this will include free pass holders). [Table 53]

Affordability of transport

69% of people said their transport costs were either fairly easy or very easy to afford, about the same as in 2023.

Those in households on incomes up to £15,000 were less likely to consider their costs affordable (57%). [Table 54]

50% of respondents said that transport costs affected the method of travel they used. [Table 55]