Fares for local bus services, indices and percentage change

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Next update expected:March 2027

Updates

31st March 2026

This update includes the publication of 2024-25 and 2023-2024 data and revised estimates for historical data.

19th January 2026
Dataset first published.

Main information

Designation
Accredited official statistics
Data provider
Department for Transport
Data source
Public service vehicle survey
Time period covered
January 1995 to December 2025

Overview

Summary of dataset and variables

This dataset gives details on fare indices for local bus services and percentage change in Wales and Great Britain by year up to 2025. Data are presented as the index (percentage) where the index in 2005 is 100 per cent, or as the percentage change when compared to the previous year in Wales and Great Britain.

Data collection or calculation

Public service vehicle information is derived from annual returns made to the DfT by the Public Service Vehicle (PSV) survey of around 450 local bus operators. This survey provides information on passenger journeys, vehicle miles, passenger receipts and operating costs. Separate smaller surveys managed by DfT collect information about fare changes, service reliability and quarterly patronage from the larger bus operators. Full details of the data sources and methods used can be found in the guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/buses-statistics-guidance.

Statistical quality

The PSV survey uses imputation techniques to derive key figures for operators who were either not selected in the sample for that year, or who did not respond. On occasion, imputations for earlier years can be improved using directly-reported data for later years. Minor revisions to back-data can occur as a result, although trends are rarely affected substantively.

For the key indicators (passenger journeys and vehicle miles operated) the data provided by operator’s covers around, or above, 90 per cent of the total figure, with the remainder imputed. Comparison with other sources suggests that, at aggregate (Great Britain) level, the statistics are likely to provide a reasonably robust measure of levels and broad trends.

However, figures representing smaller groups of operators and single year on year changes should be treated with caution as these are more susceptible to measurement errors (for example, an inaccurate return by an operator, or a change in an operator’s method of producing the figures required) which are more likely to even out at the national level. Regional, and particularly local authority, level figures should be interpreted with caution.

Related reports

Published by

Organisation
Welsh Government
Contact email
stats.transport@gov.wales