Norfolk County Council has hailed the success of its Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) after its own figures revealed bus patronage in the county rose to 14% higher than prepandemic levels.
Using figures directly from operators, the council boasted 28.5m journeys made by bus from April 2024-March 2025.
This also represented a rise of 26.7% compared to 2022/23.
A paper discussed at the council’s Infrastructure and Development Committee on 22 January credited infrastructure changes, bus priority measures, fare schemes, zero-emission buses and increased customer satisfaction for bucking the trend seen across the country.
The latest Department for Transport statistics (2024/25) show bus patronage for Great Britain at 81% of pre-COVID levels with only eight of 93 local authorities recording an increase.
Norfolk CC also cited Transport Focus’s Your Bus Journey survey, which put customer satisfaction at 87% in the county.
Among the projects delivered via the government’s £65.45 million BSIP funding are new and enhanced bus services on more than 44 routes in Norfolk, the council says.
Evidencing efforts to speed up journeys, it highlights six new bus lanes and eight junction improvements.
Capped single fares in key towns and multi-operator ticketing were also used by operators participating in the BSIP.
The council notes the 75 battery-electric buses which have been put into service in Norwich with 24 more zero-emission buses due to arrive in the county this year.
Passenger experience measures put into place include safer waiting areas, next-stop announcements and real-time information on more buses.
Councillor Graham Plant, Cabinet Member for Highways, Infrastructure and Transport, says: “This investment marks a landmark moment for public transport in Norfolk.
“Our partnership with bus operators is delivering cleaner, faster, and more reliable travel for everyone and with new funding secured for bus travel right up to 2030 we can now continue with the excellent work, expand services, improve accessibility and make bus travel a real choice for even more people across Norfolk.”
