Big dip in Leeds bus passenger numbers as fares rise
West Yorkshire-wide figures show there were 2.3m fewer journeys, an eight per cent decline
Almost a million fewer bus journeys were taken in the city in the three months after fares were last increased, a report has found.
Transport bosses revealed a dip in passenger numbers in April-June this year compared to the same period in 2024.
West Yorkshire-wide figures show there were 2.3m fewer journeys, an eight per cent decline.
In Leeds, bus use was down 6.9 per cent, one of the lowest falls in the region.
But a West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) report said: “However, that still equates to an absolute decline of almost 1m journeys.
“Given that there were 2.33m fewer journeys between those two quarters, the change in Leeds district accounts for 43 per cent of this.”
A Leeds City Council scrutiny board was told reductions in services and an increase in ticket prices from the end of March were among reasons for the decline.
Under the West Yorkshire Mayor’s Fares scheme, the cap on single fares rose from £2 to £2.50 and the DaySaver price increased from £5 to £6.
Kayleigh Ingham, commercial director for First Bus North and West Yorkshire, told councillors: “We have experienced some patronage decline in Leeds.
“And we put that down to a result of customer-facing fare increases, which was a result of the mayoral decision to increase the single and the day ticket.”
A report to the meeting said a survey of 2,221 people found ten per cent were using buses less frequently since the fare increase.
Some 69 per cent said they could afford to use West Yorkshire bus travel whenever they wanted, down from 75 per cent last year.
The report said: “These findings suggest that fare increases have contributed around two per cent to fare-paying patronage decline, a measurable though not sole impact on overall bus patronage.”
Labour’s Peter Carlill, deputy chairman of WYCA’s transport committee, said keeping fares down meant higher financial subsidies being paid by the authority.
Councillor Carlill, who represents Calverley and Farsley, said: “We do still retain one of the lowest single fares in the country, given the national fare cap is £3.”
Horsforth Labour councillor Raymond Jones said he frequently dealt with complaints over bus companies’ customer service.
He said: “I’ll be absolutely honest, I’ve stopped using the buses, simply because it’s unreliable.”
A new franchised bus network is set to be launched in 2027, giving WYCA control over fares, routes and timetables.
Councillors were told talks were being held with prospective operators.