Per-bus patronage at Go North West (GNW) has reached parity with 2019 levels, the operator has announced. It comes while the business is running 90% of the service level that it provided before the pandemic and follows a recent “surge” in returning demand.
GNW is the first Go-Ahead Group subsidiary to see per-bus ridership return to previous levels. Across the group’s 11 regional bus subsidiaries in the UK, that metric varies between 80-100%.
GNW says that while it has sufficient drivers to sustain the current service level, it is seeking to recruit more. The addition of further journeys is also being planned.
The Manchester-based business credits support from the Bus Recovery Grant mechanism and marketing initiatives with the return to per-bus patronage parity. That has included the £1 evening fare promotion that multiple other operators have utilised to grow demand, but the economy and demographics of Greater Manchester are also in play, says Managing Director Nigel Featham.
“We are delighted to see Manchester bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic. The combination of a young population, a thriving local economy and a lively nightlife scene have all contributed to this recovery in customer levels.
“We are now looking to the future with plans to add resource to our network to ensure we meet the demand.” Go North West also credits high fuel prices as an influence on bus patronage recovery and it notes that the commuter market is “steadily rebuilding.”
Adds Mr Featham: “The cost of living crisis has focused people’s minds on the price of transport – and catching a bus is a far better value way of travelling than driving a car. With passengers coming back, demand is in good shape for the introduction of Transport for Greater Manchester’s franchised model.”
