DUBLIN BUS PASSENGER journeys dropped for the second year in a row in 2012, but the company still increased passenger revenue by over eight per cent.

In total, the company accounted for 113.28 million journeys in 2012, down from 115.05 million in 2011 and 117.05 million in 2010.

The figures, released today by the National Transport Authority, show that Bus Éireann figures actually recovered last year, taking 28.63 million journeys, as opposed to 28.48 million journeys in 2011.

The Rural Transport Programme accounted for 1.73 million journeys in 2012, down 10,000 on 2011 numbers.

However, all of the bus services saw an increase in passenger revenues in 2012.

Dublin Buss was up 8.35 per cent to €172.13 million, Bus Éireann was up 5.55 per cent to €66.14 million and the Rural Transport Programme rose 30 percent to €4 million. These figures are not adjusted for inflation and do not include the taxpayer subsidy.

In total, Dublin Bus had 914 buses on the road at the end of last year, down on 1,023 at the end of 2010. Bus Éireann had 443 buses compared to 400 at the end of 2010.

Iarnród Éireann also saw a drop in passenger figures, but a rise in passenger revenue.

Passenger journeys were down 1.2 per cent to 36.92 million, while revenues from those passengers rose 0.80 percent to €157.91 million.

The Luas system in Dublin recorded another growth in passenger numbers, with 29.32 million journeys recorded on Dublin’s light rail service. That is up .80 per cent on 2011.

Revenues for the Luas rose 6.3 per cent to €46.44 million.

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