Passengers on the up again across England

The Department for Transport have released their annual light rail statistics and once again they have shown that more passengers than ever before in the “modern era” have been carried. 227 million passenger journeys were recorded on the 8 systems included in the statistics (Blackpool Tramway, Docklands Light Railway, London Tramlink, Manchester Metrolink, Midland Metro, Nottingham Express Transit, Stagecoach Supertram and Tyne & Wear Metro) which is a 2% rise of the previous years figures.

Although there has been an overall increase it hasn’t been all good news across the country with Midland Metro (2.6%), Stagecoach Supertram (12.7%) and Tyne & Wear Metro (3.65) all seeing a decline in passenger figures. However part of the reason for the decreases is that all three systems saw line closures during the year for rail replacement with the most significant of these closures being on the system which saw the biggest decrease; Stagecoach Supertram.

On the positive side all other five systems saw increases in passengers carried with the Blackpool Tramway top of these increases (17.4%) closely followed by Manchester Metrolink (16.7%). The Metrolink increases were to be expected following further extensions opening during the 12 months under review but the fairly large increase in Blackpool (which amounts to 600,000 extra passengers) cannot as easily be explained. The previous figures released this time last year would have taken into account the reopening of the Blackpool Tramway after the upgrade work (the data is taken between April and March each year) so this increase shows how the tramway has continued to go from strength to strength in the past 12 months, despite what some might have you believe.

After a significant decline in the previous figures the good news on Nottingham Express Transit in that there was a 6.1% increase in passenger numbers for 2013/4 (7.4m to 7.9m, although still not up to the levels of 2007/8 when 10.2m were carried).

The bulk of light rail journeys across England continue to be in the capital and both the Docklands Light Railway and London Tramlink enjoying increased passenger numbers. Tramlink saw 31.2m passengers carried (up 3.7% and cementing its position as the most used “tram” system as opposed to light rail) whilst the Docklands Light Railway recorded 101.6m passengers (an increase of 1.5%). The DLR figures are a particular surprise as it was thought that the 2012/13 figures had been inflated by the London Olympic and Paralympic Games but the success of this system seems no signs of being curtailed.

Overall since Nottingham Express Transit opened in 2004/5 there has been a 43% increase in passenger journeys. However this is just 2.7% of all public transport journeys in Great Britain – showing there is still plenty of room for more passengers to be carried.

As well as the main passenger journey figures the statistics released include data on one of the more controversial aspects of light rail travel – concessionary fares! Across England concessionary journeys made up 13% of all light rail passenger journeys, which was the same level as in 2012/13. As would be expected the Blackpool Tramway enjoyed the highest levels with 35% of all journeys being enjoyed by concessions (this is not just concessionary passes but also youth concessions). Stagecoach Supertram also enjoys high usage by this group with 34% of all journeys. It is no coincidence that at this time these two systems were the only two to allow all English pass holders free travel off peak (a situation which has, of course, now changed in Blackpool in case you hadn’t heard).

Passenger Journeys by system

Blackpool Tramway: 4.3m (2012/3: 3.7m – increase 17.4%)

Docklands Light Railway: 101.6m (2012/3: 100.0m – increase 1.5%)

London Tramlink: 31.2m (2012/3: 30.1m – increase 3.7%)

Manchester Metrolink: 29.2m (2012/3: 25.0m – increase 16.7%)

Midland Metro: 4.7m (2012/3: 4.8m – decrease 2.6%)

Nottingham Express Transit: 7.9m (2012/3: 7.4m – increase 6.1%)

Stagecoach Supertram: 12.6m (2012/3: 14.4m – decrease 12.7%)

Tyne & Wear Metro: 35.7m (2012/3:37.0m – decrease 3.6%)

* Full statistics (which not only include passenger numbers but also revenue, mileage run amongst other interesting facts) can be downloaded from the Department for Transport website at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/light-rail-and-tram-statistics-2013-to-2014.

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1 Response to Passengers on the up again across England

  1. Paul says:

    The Blackpool figures should show a rise – it’s effectively year 2 of a new line and you expect to get around 60% of a typical year in year 1. 4.3m sounds a somewhat low though for a 16 strong fleet when compared to Nottingham which has exceeded 10m from a fleet of 15 albeit with all year round utilisation. It makes me wonder given the heavy loads in the high season whether all passengers are being counted!

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