Public transport usage up, driven by leisure

The use of the UK’s national rail system has been consistently over 70% in recent weeks, for the first time since the pandemic, according to Government data.

In line with this, bus use has now returned to 75-85% of normal volumes as members of the public appear to be growing in confidence when it comes to shared transport solutions. The data also shows a significant gap in London between weekday and weekend trips on the Underground network. Weekend travel is up to 80% of ‘normal’ levels as people return to the Capital for social events, while weekday trips are lagging behind (60%) to suggest that working from home remains a popular choice for many. 

Elsewhere, the Government has also updated the primary guidance for the public on staying safe from coronavirus. The guidance for people to take twice weekly lateral flow tests has been removed, instead encouraging people to adopt a “risked-based” approach to testing, based on their vulnerability and the type of setting that they are visiting.