Request ID: FOI-2288-2324 Date published: 19 October 2023
You asked
Please provide passenger statistics for routes 24, 27 and 29 as well as bus modes and years.
Clarification received 03/10/2023: I want to know the average number of passengers per bus in each on of those lines in the last 5 years.
On a monthly frequency.
I want to know in what year where the buses manufactured for those lines and an explanation
as to why we have old buses in the 29 line.
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-2288-2324
Thank you for your email of 3rd October 2023 clarifying your earlier Freedom of Information request.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.
Specifically you asked:
“Bus routes 24, 27 and 29: I want to know the average number of passengers per bus in each on of those lines in the last 5 years.
On a monthly frequency.
I want to know in what year where the buses manufactured for those lines and an explanation as to why we have old buses in the 29 line.”
I can confirm that we hold the information you require.
In answer to the first part of your request, on passenger numbers, please see the spreadsheet attached. This shows the average number of boarders per bus trip on each of these routes, reported for every month from August 2018 to August 2023 inclusive. Please note the following:
By definition a bus trip is one-directional, a new trip is commenced every time the route direction is changed.
April-May-June 2020 has been omitted due to the middle door boarding that was in place during the pandemic, so data from these months is largely incomplete and sporadic
The data captured comes from Oyster and Contactless usage only.
In answer to your second question, the contractual allocation for route 29 is 2013 Hybrid Double Decks, which were refurbished in 2022. These buses have a projected 14 year lifecycle. However, note that there may be operational reasons why other vehicles may be used on the route at times to maintain the service. Routes 24 and 27 have New Routemasters allocated to them, which date from 2014/15.
If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.
Yours sincerely,
David Wells FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
