More passengers used buses and trams in Edinburgh last year.
Some 130 million customer journeys were recorded by Lothian Buses and Edinburgh Trams. The number of journeys on the buses totalled 119 million which is an increase of 2.6% on the previous year. Edinburgh Trams broke all previous records with a growth of 3.3% amounting to 12.5 million customer journeys.
The year was exceptionally busy due to several significant events in the city including Oasis and AC/DC at Murrayfield Stadium and other events at the Royal Highland Centre as well as the increase in patronage during the Festival period in August.
The two companies credit the contactless payment system now available on both trams and buses for some of the increase.
Sarah Boyd, Chief Executive of Lothian Buses and Edinburgh Trams, said: “Our bus and tram network sits at the heart of the city, providing reliable, inclusive and accessible public transport for the hundreds of thousands of customers who travel with us every day.
“This strong commercial performance reflects the dedication of our people, both on the frontline and behind the scenes, who work tirelessly to deliver consistently high-quality services.
“As we look ahead to 2026, we remain committed to managing cost pressures to ensure that we can continue to invest in the delivery of an integrated, dynamic and fit for purpose public transport network that meets the demands of our growing capital city.”
Transport and Environment Convener, Cllr Stephen Jenkinson said: “Edinburgh’s outstanding public transport network is the backbone of our great city, keeping the Capital moving every day.
“These new figures clearly show how popular our buses and trams are with our residents and visitors, and my thanks go to our valued colleagues at Lothian Buses and Edinburgh Trams for their great work over the last year. I’ve no doubt that this will continue in the year ahead as these excellent companies work ever closer together.
“As we continue to deliver on our ambitious City Mobility Plan, and face into the many challenges of managing a growing, successful city, our tram and bus services will remain at the heart of our response.”
