Bus passenger numbers are on the rise in Swindon after a dramatic decline during Covid, according to data from the Department for Transport.

From 2010 to 2020, there were between 11 and 12 million bus journeys each year in Swindon, but this dropped significantly in 2021 to just under five million during the Covid lockdowns.

Since then, the number of people choosing bus travel increased in 2022 to just under nine million, before rising to over nine million in 2023.

Friends of the Earth data shows a 44.1 per cent decrease in the number of bus trips per hour between 2010 and 2023 and despite a post-Covid demand, passenger numbers have not reached the same level as before the pandemic.

Andrew Wickham, Swindon’s Bus Company managing director, said: “The Covid lockdowns in 2020/21 meant no travel, except for keyworkers, so the number of journeys made more than halved during that time.

“Since then, we have worked hard to make bus travel an attractive option, and demand is now increasing.”

Swindon Bus Company has estimated passenger journeys to reach just under ten million in 2024, but this is still a 23.5 per cent reduction from 2010.

Andrew added that the demand for bus travel is expected to increase further once Fleming Way re-opens.

“Buses provide the perfect and affordable solution to reducing air pollution - with just one double decker having the potential to remove up to 75 cars from our roads”, he said.

“With this in mind, we have invested millions of pounds in improving the comfort and reliability of our services here, and we will continue to seek new ways to encourage more people in Swindon to take the bus over the coming years.”