Car travel has surged back above pre-pandemic levels while rail usage remains stubbornly below 2019 figures, new government data reveals, painting a mixed picture of Britain's transport recovery three years after Covid-19.
Overall domestic travel jumped 5.9% in 2023 compared to the previous year, with cars dominating Britain's transport landscape at 77% of all passenger miles. Car usage climbed 4.8% to reach 405.1 billion passenger miles – now 0.5% higher than before the pandemic struck.
Bus travel outside London posted the strongest growth, soaring 13.9% to 17.5 billion miles and sitting 2.3% above 2019 levels. London buses saw a smaller 4.3% increase but remain 14.8% below pre-pandemic figures.
Rail travel tells a different story. Despite a 12.7% rise to 38.0 billion passenger miles in 2023, train usage sits 17.1% below 2019 levels. The persistent gap reflects lasting changes in commuting patterns, particularly the rise of hybrid working that has reduced demand for traditional peak-time services.
Active travel showed modest changes, with walking up 0.6% to 51.5 billion miles and cycling down 0.7% to 5.5 billion miles. The pandemic boom in walking and cycling has largely plateaued as other transport options returned.
The figures, published in the Department for Transport's 'Domestic Transport Usage by Mode' report, will shape future decisions on infrastructure investment and efforts to encourage greener travel options. Rail operators and government now face the challenge of adapting services to win back passengers in an era of changed working patterns.