Introduction

Background to the statistics

1.1 A subset of Public Transport Statistics Northern Ireland which is produced by the Analysis, Statistics and Research Branch (ASRB) within the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) were previously published as part of the Northern Ireland Transport Statistics accredited official statistics report. This report covered information on the road network, public transport and accessible transport in Northern Ireland.

1.2 During June and July 2021, ASRB ran a user consultation exercise on proposals for a new official statistics publication on public transport and on the cessation of the Northern Ireland Transport Statistics report in its current format, following conversations with key users of the statistics. Following the feedback received, ASRB took the decision to cease production of the Northern Ireland Transport Statistics report, which was last published in September 2021 covering the period up to 2020–21.

1.3 ASRB also secured support to take forward proposals for the new public transport statistics release. The first standalone Public Transport Statistics Northern Ireland report, covering the period from 2019–20 to 2021–22, was published in March 2023 as official statistics. There have since been two further publications, with the latest release in September 2024 covering the period up to 2023–24.

1.4 This publication has been evolving to further incorporate user feedback from a follow-up user engagement exercise in 2023. For example, ASRB has improved the timeliness of the release from a 1-year lag to 6 months and included additional data, such as bus operating miles by vehicle fuel type. Developments to the public transport statistics are set out in DfI’s forward work plan.

1.5 Public Transport Statistics Northern Ireland is based on data from Translink, the main public transport provider in Northern Ireland. Translink owns the databases that are used as the source data for the statistics, covering passenger journeys, income, mileage, assets and staffing.