There were 8.3 billion passenger journeys on public transport vehicles in 2018/19, re- maining at a similar level to the previous year. *Rail includes trips by National Rail, London Underground, and Glasgow Subway.

In 2026, public transport usage in the UK has reached a new post-recovery peak, with approximately 4.5 billion passenger journeys annually on local buses and over 1.7 billion journeys on the national rail network. In London alone, the Transport for London (TfL) network—which includes the Tube, buses, and the Elizabeth Line—accounts for over 3.2 billion of these annual journeys. These figures reflect a significant shift toward sustainable travel, spurred by the expansion of "Low Emission Zones" and the high cost of car ownership in urban centers. While rail commuting has changed due to hybrid work models, leisure travel and weekend usage have surged to record levels. The government's "Bus Back Better" initiative has also stabilized bus ridership in regional areas through fare-capping and improved service frequency. Overall, roughly 60% of people living in major UK cities use some form of public transport at least once a week, making it a vital pillar of the national economy and carbon-reduction strategy for 2026.