TfL has recently published its annual bus usage data for the 2021/2022 period. This will be the first statistics published as bus usage recovers from the 2020 pandemic.
The link to the spreadsheet for the 2021/2022 period can be found here:
http://tfl.gov.uk/cdn/static/cms/documents/2022-annual-bus-stats.xlsx
For the top ten used routes for the day routes, two of our Enfield routes sit on the list with the 149 and the 279 retaining their status as one of the busiest routes in London. Whilst only recovering significantly less than its pre-pandemic usage, it has been suggested the low car ownership rates and inadequate rail services within those routings are one of the main reasons its usage has been strong despite travel shift in patterns from the pandemic.
Within night routes two of our Enfield routes also make it into the top ten used night routes in London. The N279 makes it to sixth place with a usage of 602,000 and the N29 is in second place with a usage of 806,000 for the latest period.
The 399 still has its spot for being the least-used bus route in London with only 7,699 users recorded. New to the list is the 327 with only 38,611 recorded users which is only 54.1% of its pre-pandemic usage. The route was under a temporary timetable which reduced the frequency to hourly than its previous forty-minute frequency as to possibly why the recovery has been weak, though there may be more factors such as a shift in shopping habits and its service not being adequate for users
Outside of these, the 456 bus route has recorded its first annual bus usage with 228,095 users recorded from the latest statistics. The data recording started in April 2021 a month after the route was introduced meaning users are yet to show full establishment on the route as this latest data suggests. However, it's expected the route will rise in usage as it establishes within its routings.
On the other hand, the W9 route has been shown to only recover 62.1% of its pre-pandemic usage with even the route sitting in the top 30 weakest recovered routes in London. The average London bus recovery percentage is around 70 to 80%. It has also been suggested the combined factors of the introduction of the 456 and Great Northern reduced its off-peak frequency to 2tph at Grange Park and Winchmore Hill stations where the route serves. The 456 in particular as it interchanges with the W9 at Enfield Town, Highlands and at Winchmore Hill, The Green with the route taking a more direct route towards Enfield Town from Winchmore Hill, The Green as to possibly why usage has decreased on the W9 itself.
