Reading saw 19.5 million bus journeys made in the borough in 2023/24.

This was an increase of two million journeys compared to 2022/23 and an 11.4 per cent rise in passenger journeys.

This increase is 54 per cent above the average growth in England, which was recorded at 7.4 per cent.

Reading has the third highest number of bus passenger journeys per head of population in England, outside of London, after Brighton and Nottingham.

The rise in passenger numbers follows the council's work to encourage greater use of public transport through its £26 million Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP).

Councillor John Ennis, lead councillor for climate strategy and transport, said: "The latest government figures show a big increase in the number of people using Reading’s excellent bus network.

"They highlight how hugely important buses are for so many people travelling around the borough, whether it be for work or pleasure."

Statistics from the Department for Transport (DfT) show that there were 109.4 bus journeys per head of population in Reading in 2023/24, which is a 9.8 per cent increase on the previous year.

Bus journeys per head of population in Reading are 74 per cent above the England average (62.9) and 240 per cent above the South East average (32.1).

The council was awarded £26 million grant funding for its BSIP programme by the DfT in January 2023 to improve services to encourage more people to travel by bus in Reading.

Capital schemes being delivered include a programme of new bus lanes around the town, three of which have already been delivered in London Road (Cemetery Junction) and two in Oxford Road.

Phase 5 of the South Reading Bus Rapid Transit scheme is currently underway to allow buses to avoid pinch points on the route, while retaining the same capacity for all other traffic.

This includes a new pedestrian and cycle bridge that will be installed over the River Kennet.

Other initiatives have included the introduction of expanded community Buzz 9 and Buzz 18 bus services, the creation of the Reading All-Bus multi-operator discount scheme with tap on, tap off technology, and a discounted £1 fare for parking and return journeys on park and ride services.

Reading Buses has one of the most modern fleets in the country, having made a huge investment in vehicles to provide the highest level of comfort, safety and convenience for passengers, as well as running vehicles to the latest environmental standards.

Next year, the company will take delivery of 24 zero emission electric buses through the ZEBRA 2 project in partnership with the council.