New figures from the National Transport Authority (NTA) show the number of bus journeys in Cork has increased by 20% since 2012, a bigger increase than in any other region, including Dublin.
![The 215 bus service at Mahon Point, Cork. Picture: Denis Scannell]()
The 215 bus service at Mahon Point, Cork.
Picture: Denis Scannell
Last year, 11.7m bus journeys were taken in Cork, a 7.3% increase on the 10.9m journeys in 2014.
Cork City services, combined with Dublin commuter services, now account for 60% of all Bus Éireann passenger journeys.
The NTA said growth in passenger journeys in Cork is driven by the reconfiguration of services in the city and by the fact that a small number of stage-carriage services have been reclassified as Cork City services.
Cork City had the greatest increase in passenger journeys, but also has the greatest increase in passenger revenues. This was helped by the reclassification.
Passengers in Cork City spent €20.44m last year in fares, up significantly on the €18.2m spent last year and the €14.3 spent in 2012.
The NTA said demand for public transport is strongly related to economic activity, with growth increasing employment, disposable income and consumer spending, all of which lead to more travel.
However, they said the rural-based stage-carriage services have continued to show a decline in passenger journeys.
