Agenda item

To receive any updates from operators.

Terrance James of First Bus provided a powerpoint presentation.  The following was noted:

·       Steady growth continued on the £1 fare in Taunton from June through to November.  Whilst there was an expected drop in December, this was up 80% on December 2022.

·       In terms of the Government £2 fare on single trips, there had been steady growth.  A big proportion of trips was being seen on the 58.

·       With regard to Somerset Passenger Recovery, overall passenger volumes were down from 21% in October to 19%.  There had been a slowdown in passenger volumes since the beginning of December.  Year on year growth in the past four weeks had been approximately 4%.

Thomas Hughes, Operations Manager for First West of England Bus advised that there had generally been an increase in growth from October to mid- December with an expected dip over the Christmas and New Year period.  There had been a slower start to year as people returned to work from the holidays.