Could you please tell me the number of people using the tube and buses in 2020 by month, and whether these figures have significantly dropped. Or failing this, the number of card taps on the barriers. I would like a week by week summary of these numbers.

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TfL Ref: 3744-1920

Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 4 March 2020 asking for information about Tube and bus passenger numbers.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold some of the information you require.

We have issued a press release on 16 March 2020 about the impact of Covid-19 virus on passenger numbers which you can read here: https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2020/march/tfl-update-on-financial-impact-of-coronavirus.

The data you have requested is below. Please note that we record journeys by 28 day accounting periods rather than calendar months, so the data shows journeys made in the two full periods of 2020 to date. As you will be aware, at the present time our services are for essential journeys by vital workers in the NHS and other critical services and our staff are working hard to support them and protect all Londoners. As of 1 April 2020, we have seen the number of people using Tube and rail services plummet by more than 94 percent compared to normal. Bus journeys across London are also down by 85 per cent.

Period	Start date	End date	Bus journeys (m)	year-on-year change	Underground journeys (m)	year-on-year change
11	05/01/2020	01/02/2020	170	-1%	106	-1%
12	02/02/2020	29/02/2020	166	-3%	106	-4%

Following the outbreak of COVID-19 passenger numbers have decreased, as people follow the advice given by the Government and Public Health England. However to help reduce the risk of the virus spreading we have started an enhanced cleaning regime across the Tube and bus networks to improve the already-high hygiene levels on our transport. Cleaning across our networks now includes additional substances that kill viruses and bacteria on contact. Please see our latest press release for more information available via the following link: https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2020/march/enhanced-cleaning-regime-to-make-public-transport-even-safer

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

Sara Thomas

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

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