Findings

Methods and assured quality

2.1 The statistics presented provide a comprehensive overview of public transport usage in Northern Ireland, covering usage patterns such as the number of passenger journeys, types of transport used and fare types; miles operated and fuel types; onboard facilities and compliance with accessibility regulations. The data help DfI shape policies to promote sustainable and active travel, including for use in DfI’s Annual Report and Accounts. The data can be used to track changes in public transport use over time, including the effects of external factors like the pandemic, and inform the public and stakeholders about transport performance.

2.2 ASRB ensures that it has a good understanding of the validation and quality assurance checks that Translink conducts before providing the data. As is the case with most administrative systems, there may be some potential for manual entry errors. Translink carries out quality checks with the aim to mitigate this risk. These quality checks include the regular monitoring of ticketing equipment to ensure it is working correctly, as this ticketing information is fed into one of Translink’s databases that is used in the compilation of data for ASRB, and internal and external auditing of systems. Additionally, data are reconciled between different systems; and staff are trained to ensure that all Translink staff members record details accurately and consistently and on the use of the databases and how to access the databases.

2.3 The ASRB team then carries out its own quality assurance on the data, such as checks for incorrect or missing data and comparisons of data with previous years. Any anomalies or errors identified as a result of these checks are referred back to Translink and can be corrected or resolved as appropriate.

2.4 ASRB also has plans to further strengthen its quality assurance arrangements. It aims to triangulate data with the outcomes of the Travel Survey for Northern Ireland (TSNI) from September 2025. Incorporating this extra quality assurance arrangement was delayed following delays to the previous year’s TSNI publications due to the late arrival of data from the suppliers and the additional validation that has been required after quality issues were identified.

2.5 ASRB publishes this information on quality and quality assurance for users of the statistics in a clear and informative way in the Background Quality Report. This information is further supported by the comprehensive Quality Assurance of Administrative Data (QAAD) document that has been produced in line with OSR’s QAAD guidance.

2.6 ASRB has a constructive and collaborative relationship with its data supplier Translink, both informally and through more formal arrangements. For example, as part of developing the public transport statistics, ASRB staff met with Translink to agree the data requirements and the quality assurance procedures that Translink has in place. The teams also meet ahead of each new data collection to discuss any new requirements.

2.7 We heard from both Translink and ASRB of the positive relationship between the two teams. This relationship has resulted in ASRB maintaining appropriate knowledge of the operational context and collection methods of the source data. The data sources and collection methods are set out in detail in the QAAD document.

2.8 All of the users we spoke to expressed confidence in the quality of the statistics, with some users specifically referencing the published background and quality reports.

Accessibility

Statistical publication

2.9 The Public Transport Statistics Northern Ireland outputs include the statistical report, data tables (both in Excel and an accessible open-data source format which supports re-use of the data), an infographic and a statistical press release. We welcome that the statistics are presented in different formats aimed at different user groups. Some users we spoke to found that infographics aided understanding of the key messages from the statistics, particularly for those who are not from a statistical background or who do not work with statistics on a regular basis.

2.10 Further re-use of the data is made possible through the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA)’s data portal under the theme “Travel and Transport”. Through the data portal, users can view and filter the monthly passenger journeys data for their own requirements. Making data available through such tools gives users greater flexibility to interrogate the data in a way that best meets their needs, while reducing burden on the production team involved in writing the analysis within the main statistical bulletin. ASRB has also recently added data around buses by mileage and fuel type, and transport accessibility to the data portal.

Website navigation

2.11 Accessing the most relevant landing page and finding the desired statistics may not be a straightforward task for users. The DfI website provides several ways to navigate to the public transport statistics, such as the public transport statistics page, which also links to the Public Transport Statistics Northern Ireland page as well as other transport statistics. There is also a public transport page, which has links to a range of current, discontinued and ad hoc statistics and research. One user we spoke to noted that they would like improved access to the statistics, suggesting bringing all public transport related reports by DfI into one central page.

2.12 In addition, the titles for the range of transport data and statistics produced, or previously produced, by DfI are not always distinct, and it may not always be clear to users what they contain. The team has told us that work is in progress to improve navigation around the statistics and research areas of the DfI website.

2.13 One user flagged that on the publication landing page, it is not always obvious which link leads to the main statistical report; documents such as the press release and infographic seem more prominent than the actual statistical report. This confusion has occurred as the HTML statistics report is hosted on NISRA’s website, whereas the other items, such as the infographic and data tables, are hosted on DfI’s website. The team told us that it is aware of this issue but faces challenges in addressing it due to technical limitations of its website – and publishing protocol.

Meeting user needs

2.14 DfI recognised the need for official statistics on public transport for a range of purposes, such as to support evidence-based decision making, policy development and review, monitoring changes over time, and ensuring transparent oversight of the Public Service Agreement with Translink. The Public Service Agreement sets out a comprehensive framework for the delivery, management and monitoring of public passenger transport services in Northern Ireland, ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and promoting efficiency, safety and accessibility.

2.15 Users we spoke to as part of our review also recognise the value of these statistics, using them for purposes such as policy formulation within Northern Ireland and research on specific local issues.

2.16 DfI is open to feedback and engages effectively with its user base. Users commented positively on their experiences of engaging with the statistics team, finding the team helpful and responsive when dealing with queries and being willing to engage.

2.17 Public Transport Statistics Northern Ireland was developed following user engagement in 2021. DfI then carried out a further engagement exercise in 2023. This exercise identified additional data needs on topics such as the breakdown of mileage by fuel/ emissions type, data on safety and accidents, customer satisfaction, urban/rural statistics, accessibility, concessionary fares, and timetables and connections. DfI was open and fed back to users where it could and could not meet these needs when it published its consultation outcome summary – this included signposting users to other data sources on the DfI website and Translink website.

2.18 The views of some of the users we spoke to echoed some of the findings from the user consultation, such as a need for breakdowns of the data by fare-paying versus concessionary passengers and by urban/rural area and for data on station accessibility. Some of these needs were also themes covered in our Review of Transport Accessibility Statistics in 2022.

2.19 The team has since acted on some of the user needs identified from the consultation, such as including bus operating miles by vehicle fuel type and expanding the data on paying/non-paying passenger journeys to now include paid, subsidised and full-fare concession passenger journeys in the most recent statistical report published in 2024.

2.20 One user flagged to us that data that had previously been included in the now-ceased Transport Statistics publication, such as rolling stock split by locomotives and passenger coaches, route miles of track and number of stations, are not in the public transport statistics publication. The statistics team told us that the need for these particular data had not been raised in the user consultation, perhaps because route miles of track and number of stations remain fairly static, but that it is considering how best to address this need for users.

2.21 The data that Translink collects are for its operational purposes, such as for inclusion in its statutory accounts and for measuring targets and are collected through administrative systems. Therefore, due to the way the data are collected it is not feasible to meet all user needs, such as providing data below the NI level at a local council level. Other data needs, such as information on station accessibility, are reported by Translink with a search facility available for passengers, and data on user satisfaction and reasons people use public transport are available from the Northern Ireland Continuous Household Survey.

Providing further insight

2.22 The Public Transport Statistics Northern Ireland report provides various counts and trends over time on a range of different topics. ASRB provides various caveats and guidance for users, such as information around disruptions due to industrial action, to help them appropriately interpret the statistics. Our review identified areas where further context could be added to the statistical report to strengthen the narrative and enhance value for users. For example:

• Figures 11 and 12 include a breakdown by fuel type (diesel, diesel hybrid and zero emission). More insight could be provided for users to understand and interpret changes in the statistics, given moves to renewable energy and meeting net-zero targets for NI.
• Figure 4 shows revenue from passenger receipts. It could be helpful for users to understand what is driving the movements in these data, for example increased passenger numbers, annual fare increases (although we note that the User Guidance section in the statistical report highlights that Translink made fare revisions in March 2023, and there were further changes to some rail routes in November 2023). It would also be beneficial for users to know whether the data are presented as real or nominal values.
• Figure 2, which reports on public transport passenger journeys, helpfully shows the onset of travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While the changes to restrictions are explained in detail in the User Guidance section, to improve the visual interpretation of the data, the date when all restrictions were lifted could be added to Figure 2.