FOI Public Transport Spend + Usage

The request was partially successful.

Dear City of Edinburgh Council,

I am writing a FOI request to ask about how much the council spends on public transport each year and usage figures; that would be buses, trains, trams, cycles. As much information as you have, going back as far as you can would be very appreciated!

Yours faithfully,

Fergus Matheson

City of Edinburgh Council

Mr Fergus Matheson

Our ref: 30936

Dear Mr Matheson

Acknowledgement of Request

Subject: Public Transport Spend + Usage

Thank you for your request for information which was received on 25/01/2021.

In your request you asked for the following;

I am writing a FOI request to ask about how much the council spends on public transport each year and usage figures; that would be buses, trains, trams, cycles. As much information as you have, going back as far as you can.

I can confirm that your request will be processed under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, Environmental Information Regulations (Scotland) 2004, or the INSPIRE (Scotland) Regulations 2009.

You will receive the information requested within 20 working days unless the Council does not hold the information, or there is a reason for it to be withheld. We will write to you in any event. This means we have until 22/02/2021 to respond to your request.

In some circumstances a fee may be payable and if that is the case we will let you know.

If you have any requirements regarding the format any information should be supplied in, e.g. the language to be used, audio, large print and so on, then please let me know.

If you have any queries or concerns, do not hesitate to get in touch. Please quote the reference number above in any future communications.

To promote transparency and accountability, please note it is the Council’s policy to publish all request details and responses made under the freedom of information legislation. This information is normally available through the Council’s website and will not include personal details. Unfortunately, at the moment, the disclosure log is only partly available. We hope to have this issue resolved in the near future, after which time, the full response will be accessible via the following link: https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/homepage/10....

Further information about your rights and accessing information is available on our website at: www.edinburgh.gov.uk

Yours sincerely,

Information Governance Unit
Level 2:1, Waverley Court, Edinburgh EH8 8BG Tel 0131 200 2340
[Edinburgh City Council request email] www.edinburgh.gov.uk

Information Rights Officer 4, City of Edinburgh Council

Mr Fergus Matheson

 

[1][FOI #720934 email]

 

Our ref: 30936

 

 

Dear Mr Matheson

 

Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - Partial Release of
Information

 

Subject: Public Transport Spend & Usage

 

Thank you for your request for information of 25/01/2021, which has been
processed under the terms of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act
2002. Unfortunately, the Council is only able to meet part of your
request; this information is released to you now. Please accept my
apologies for the delay in responding.

 

You asked the following:

 

How much does the Council spend on public transport each year and usage
figures; that would be buses, trains, trams, cycles.

 

As much information as you have, going back as far as you can would be
very appreciated!

 

The table below sets out combined capital and revenue expenditure from
2005/06 onwards across Active Travel, Trams and Buses*.

Expenditure Per Year Active Travel Trams Bus Total
2004/05 & 2005/06 £1,457,348 £21,499,532 £1,200,351 £24,157,231
2006/07 £1,329,965 £33,939,434 £2,046,547 £37,315,946
2007/08 £1,238,768 £81,774,047 £508,507 £83,521,322
2008/09 £1,368,890 £84,368,633 £1,251,102 £86,988,625
2009/10 £1,219,632 £119,894,115 £1,130,654 £122,244,401
2010/11 £1,888,554 £127,936,183 £532,282 £130,357,019
2011/12 £2,197,644 £109,543,856 £540,111 £112,281,611
2012/13 £2,282,564 £135,115,295 £656,650 £138,054,509
2013/14 £2,146,123 £53,198,438 £866,923 £56,211,484
2014/15 £3,105,219 £8,071,970 £741,414 £11,918,603
2015/16 £3,363,790 £5,207,893 £2,153,533 £10,725,216
2016/17 £2,204,745 £5,254,710 £1,660,182 £9,119,637
2017/18 £938,472 £6,833,265 £1,555,432 £9,327,169
2018/19 £3,521,536 £7,701,185 £2,806,186 £14,028,907
2019/20 £5,438,912 £29,824,029 £3,182,817 £38,445,758
Total £33,702,162 £830,162,585 £20,832,691 £884,697,438

 

*Supported Buses revenue services, yearly spend information, is only
included for 2015/16 to 2019/20. Figures before this only reflect capital
expenditure for those years.

Supported Bus Services Yearly Passenger Figures
Year Passengers except Passengers use Total
Concession Concession
2013 606,062 530,067 1,136,129
2014 550,482 486,875 1,037,357
2015 662,275 572,330 1,234,605
2016 640,601 529,211 1,169,812
2017 584,221 480,826 1,065,047
2018 796,034 562,166 1,358,200
2019 833,403 591,719 1,425,122
2020 395,392 283,921 679,313

 

Trams Passenger Numbers:

2014 - 2.95m

2015 - 5.20m

2016 - 5.59m

2017 - 6.6 m

2018 - 7.30m

2019 - 7.45m

Statistics on bicycle usage in Edinburgh is reported by SusTrans on their
website at: [2]https://www.sustrans.org.uk/bike-life/bi...

In terms of trains, unfortunately, we are unable to provide you with the
information requested because it is not held by the Council.

The City of Edinburgh Council does not spend on this form of public
transport and does not hold patronage figures. It is suggested this
information would be held by each train operator.

Please note that this letter constitutes a notice under section 17 of the
Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

To promote transparency and accountability, please note it is the
Council’s policy to publish all request details and responses made under
the freedom of information legislation. This information is normally
available through the Council’s website and will not include personal
details. Unfortunately, at the moment, the disclosure log is only partly
available. We hope to have this issue resolved in the near future, after
which time, the full response will be accessible via the following link:
[3]https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/homepage/10....

 

Your right to seek a review

 

I appreciate that our decision may disappoint you and I am sorry that we
have not been able to release all the information you requested on this
occasion. If you are unhappy with the way we have dealt with your request,
you can ask us to review our actions and decisions by writing to:

 

Information Compliance Team

The City of Edinburgh Council

Waverley Court Business Centre 2:1

4, East Market Street

Edinburgh

EH8 8BG or,

Email: [4][email address]

 

Please note that your request must be in a recordable format (email,
letter, audio tape etc.), and that you have 40 working days upon receipt
of this letter to ask for a review. You will receive a full response to
your review request within 20 working days of its receipt. Please quote
the reference number above in any future communications.

 

If you are not content with the outcome of the review, you can ask the
Scottish Information Commissioner to review our decision. You must submit
your complaint to the Commissioner within 6 months of receiving our review
response. The Commissioner can be contacted at:

 

The Office of the Scottish Information Commissioner

Kinburn Castle

Doubledykes Road

St Andrews

Fife

KY16 9DS

Telephone: 01334 464610

Fax: 01334 464611

Website: [5]www.itspublicknowledge.info/Appeal

Email: [6][email address]

 

Yours sincerely

 

Iain Burden

Information Rights Officer

 

 

Information Governance Unit

Level 2:1, Waverley Court, Edinburgh EH8 8BG Tel 0131 200 2340

[7][Edinburgh City Council request email]  [8]www.edinburgh.gov.uk

 

 

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References

Visible links
1. mailto:[FOI #720934 email]
2. https://www.sustrans.org.uk/bike-life/bi...
3. https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/homepage/10...
4. mailto:[email address]
5. http://www.itspublicknowledge.info/Appeal
6. mailto:[email address]
7. mailto:[Edinburgh City Council request email]
8. http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/