EDINBURGH’S bus and tram operators have announced a sharp uptick in usage in 2025, with more than 130 million customer journeys recorded.
Lothian Buses recorded nearly 120 million customer journeys, a sharp 2.6% increase from the 116 million recorded in 2024.
Meanwhile, Edinburgh Trams recorded 12.5 million journeys across last year, a 3.3% increase on the 2024 total of more than 12 million.
This increase has been put down to an increase in the number of visitors to the city for high-profile concerts and a busy festival season, but also to an increase in adoption among locals.
Edinburgh’s trams have expanded in size since 2023, with a commensurate expansion to usage (C) trainphotos / Wikimedia Commons
In an announcement, Lothian Buses called these figures “record-breaking”, with the highest number of recorded journeys on trams and buses since lockdown.
These figures still pale in comparison to pre-pandemic public transport usage.
Edinburgh recorded a pre-pandemic peak of 231 million bus and tram journeys in 2019, showing that there is still potential for even greater usage going forward.
Public transport saw heavy patronage during a busy festival season, with ticket sales holding steady from last year.
Further strain was also placed on bus and trams during the summer months, with several high-profile concerts taking place at Murrayfield Stadium and the Royal Highland Centre.
The introduction of contactless payments and tap-on, tap-off technology on trams has also allowed more seamless and streamlined travel on Edinburgh’s sole tramline.
Sarah Boyd, chief executive of Lothian Buses and Edinburgh Trams, said: “Our bus and tram network sits at the heart of the city, providing reliable, inclusive and accessible public transport for the hundreds of thousands of customers who travel with us every day.
“This strong commercial performance reflects the dedication of our people, both on the frontline and behind the scenes, who work tirelessly to deliver consistently high-quality services.
“As we look ahead to 2026, we remain committed to managing cost pressures to ensure that we can continue to invest in the delivery of an integrated, dynamic and fit for purpose public transport network that meets the demands of our growing capital city.”
The City of Edinburgh Council is planning to expand Edinburgh’s tram network, with work on a north-south line in the planning stages.
A consultation on the plans, which generated controversy due to their perceived adverse impacts on greenspaces and biodiversity, closed in November last year, with most respondents being in favour of a tram expansion.
Transport and environment convener, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson said: “Edinburgh’s outstanding public transport network is the backbone of our great city, keeping the Capital moving every day.
“These new figures clearly show how popular our buses and trams are with our residents and visitors, and my thanks go to our valued colleagues at Lothian Buses and Edinburgh Trams for their great work over the last year.
“I’ve no doubt that this will continue in the year ahead as these excellent companies work ever closer together.
“As we continue to deliver on our ambitious city mobility plan, and face into the many challenges of managing a growing, successful city, our tram and bus services will remain at the heart of our response.”
Related