Key points

Public Transport in Northern Ireland

  • Around three quarters (76%) of respondents were satisfied with public transport facilities in their area, down from 79% in 2021/22.

  • Just under a quarter (23%) of respondents used public transport at least a few times per month, and just over three-fifths (61%) used public transport at least once a year.

  • The majority (95%) of respondents felt ‘very safe’ or ‘fairly safe’ when using public transport.

Infographic displaying key findings from the report

Introduction

The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) leads on public transport policy and has commissioned questions in the Continuous Household Survey since 2016/17 in relation to attitudes to public transport and awareness of resources for planning journeys on public transport.

Uses of the data

This publication presents information from the 2023/24 Continuous Household Survey (CHS) on frequency of public transport use, type of public transport used, satisfaction with using, and feelings of safety while using public transport.

The information will be used to assist the Department in focusing its policies on addressing the key issues that prevent people from taking up active and sustainable travel and to encourage more people to use active and sustainable methods of travel, where possible.

Please note that further analysis and Section 75 breakdowns may be available on request from ASRB.

Methodology changes due to COVID-19

Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, data collection for the 2020/21 survey moved from face-to-face interviewing to telephone mode with a reduction in the number of questions. Telephone interviewing has remained in place for the 2021/22 survey, therefore caution should be used when interpreting trend data due to methodology and content changes during the 2020/21 survey period.

In 2020/21, the output from the survey, in terms of the range and depth of topics covered, was reduced from that of previous years, with the subsequent capacity for detailed analysis constrained. In 2021/22, the sample size for the CHS returned to normal and while the survey content was slightly impacted by the move to telephone interviewing, a larger number of questions were asked.

More information is available on the NISRA website.

Public Transport

1.1 Use of Public Transport

Question modules on attitudes towards public transport were previously included in the CHS (since 2017/18), however caution should be used when comparing trend data due to methodology and content changes during the 2020/21 survey period.

Figure 1: How often do you use public transport? (%)

3% of respondents use public transport ‘every day’, 12% use it ‘once a week’, while 32% said they ‘never’ use public transport’.

Figure 2: Which public transport services do you use? (%)

Respondents who indicated that they used public transport were asked which public transport services they used and could select more than one answer. Over half of respondents had used ‘Ulsterbus’ services and ‘NI rail’ (51%). City based services such as ‘Metro’ and ‘Glider’ were used by 24% and 11% of respondents respectively.

However, a much higher proportion of residents living in Belfast LGD had used the ‘Glider’ (37%) and ‘Metro’ (80%).

1.2 Satisfaction with Public Transport

Figure 3: Are you satisfied with public transport facilities in your area? (%)*

*due to methodology changes figures from 2020/21 are not directly comparable with previous years.

Respondents were asked to indicate whether or not they were satisfied with the public transport facilities in their area.

In 2023/24, just over three quarters of respondents (76%) said they were ‘satisfied’ with public transport facilities in their area. This is down from 2021/22 (79%).

Figure 4: Are you satisfied with public transport facilities in your area? (by respondent group) (%)

Those aged 16-24 (83%) were more likely to say they were satisfied with public transport than any other age group. Those aged 35-49 were least likely to be satisfied with public transport facilities in their area (71%).

A higher proportion of respondents in urban areas (80%) said they were satisfied with public transport facilities in their area compared with those living in rural areas (70%).

There was no real difference between males and females and those with a disability compared to those without a disability.

Figure 5: Are you satisfied with public transport facilities in your area? (by local government district) (%)*

*due to small sample size, figures for Fermanagh and Omagh are not available.

Nearly nine tenths (89%) of respondents in Mid Ulster Council said they were satisfied with public transport facilities in their area, while just over half (58%) of respondents in Lisburn and Castlereagh council were satisfied with public transport facilities in their area.

Figure 6: Are you satisfied with public transport facilities in your area? (by Deprivation quintile) (%)

There is no real difference in satisfaction with public transport facilities in their area when comparing those living in the most deprived areas and those living in the least deprived areas.

Figure 7: For which reasons are you satisfied with public transport in your area (%)

Respondents were asked to indicated the reasons as to why they were satisfied with public transport in their area and could select more than one reason.

Reliability of service (53%), frequency of service (46%) and quality of service (40%) were the main reasons as to why respondents were satisfied with public transport in their area. While 11% stated there were no reasons as to why they were satisfied with public transport in their area.

Figure 8: For which reasons are you not satisfied with public transport in your area (%)

Respondents were asked to indicated the reasons as to why they were not satisfied with public transport in their area and could select more than one reason.

46% of respondents stated there were no reasons as to why they were not satisfied with public transport in their area. Frequency of service (26%), reliability of service (13%) and cost (12%) were the main reasons as to why respondents were not satisfied with public transport in their area.

Figure 9: What encourages you to use public transport? (%)

Respondents who indicated that they used public transport were asked what encouraged them to use public transport and could select more than one answer.

Over half of respondents (56%) said “I find it convenient”, just over one quarter indicated “it is free” and 2% of respondents stated “I don’t like driving” as the reason they are encouraged to use public transport.

1.3 Safety using Public Transport

Respondents were asked to consider how safe they feel when using public transport, in terms of crime and personal safety.

Figure 10: Do you feel safe using public transport? (%)

Nearly two thirds (64%) of respondents said they felt ‘very safe’ while using public transport, and more than three in ten (31%) said they feel ‘fairly safe’ using public transport. A small proportion of respondents (1%) said they feel ‘very unsafe’ using public transport.

Respondents were subsequently asked ‘During the last 12 months, have you been the victim of a crime while using public transport?’. Less than 0.5% said that they had been a victim of a crime so no further results have been reported.

Figure 11: Do you feel safe using public transport? (by respondent group) (%)

Male respondents (97%) were more likely than female respondents (94%) to say they felt ‘very safe’ or ‘fairly safe’ when using public transport.

There were no real difference in feeling safe when using public transport between age groups, those who live in urban or rural areas and those with or without a disability.

Figure 12: Do you feel safe using public transport? (by local government district) (%)*

*due to small sample size, figures for Fermanagh and Omagh are not available.

Feelings of safety while using public transport are generally high, and all (100%) respondents in Mid Ulster said they felt ‘very safe’ or ‘fairly safe’ when using public transport.

The lowest proportion of respondents who said they felt ‘very safe’ or ‘fairly safe’ when using public transport was amongst those in Belfast, although still above 9 in 10 respondents (92%).

Figure 13: Do you feel safe using public transport? (by Deprivation quintile) (%)

The percentage of respondents in the most deprived areas feeling safe while using public transport (91%) was lower than all other areas.

1.4 Public Transport Journey Planning

Respondents were asked about public transport journey planning including which methods that can be used to plan journeys by public transport they were aware of and which they used.

Figure 14: Which methods that can be used to plan journeys by public transport are you aware of? (%)

Respondents were asked to indicate which methods of journey planning they were aware of and could select more than one answer.

The majority of respondents (63%) indicated they were aware of timetables on the Translink website. Over one third (37%) were aware of Translink mobile app and 13% of respondents stated they were not aware of any journey planning methods.

Figure 15: Which methods do you use to plan your journeys? (%)

When asked about the methods of journey planning they used over half of respondents said they used timetables on the Translink website, 13% used hard copy timetables, one third used the Translink journey planner app and 7% of respondents used the Translink call centre to plan their journeys.

Contact information

Appendices

Appendix A: Technical Notes

The Northern Ireland Continuous Household Survey

Data Collection

The information presented in this publication derives from the Northern Ireland Continuous Household Survey (CHS), a Northern Ireland wide household survey administered by Central Survey Unit (CSU), Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA).

It is based on a sample of the general population resident in private households and has been running since 1983. The survey is designed to provide a regular source of information on a wide range of social and economic issues relevant to Northern Ireland. The Active and Sustainable Travel in Northern Ireland questions which were commissioned by DfI are included in Appendix C of this report.

Note: Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, NISRA suspended all face to face household interviews in March 2020. In the reporting periods, April 2020 - March 2021 and April 2021 - March 2022, all interviews carried out on the Continuous Household Survey (CHS) were conducted by telephone. For this reporting year, April 2023 - March 2024, face to face interviewing was the preferred method of data collecting however telephone interviewing was an option, thus making the survey dual-modality. There are a number of factors. which users should take into consideration when interpreting the 2020-21 results and care should be taken when comparing these to previously published findings from the survey and more information is available on the NISRA website.

Data Quality

Data were collected by CSU and various validation checks were carried out as part of the processing. CSU is the leading social survey research organisation in Northern Ireland and is one of the main business areas of NISRA, an Agency within the Department of Finance. CSU has a long track record and a wealth of experience in the design, management and analysis of behavioural and attitude surveys in the context of a wide range of social policy issues. CSU procedures are consistent with the Code of Practice for Statistics.

The CHS sample was assessed and considered to be a representative sample of the Northern Ireland population at household level.

Whilst data quality is considered to be very good, note that all survey estimates are subject to a degree of error and this must be taken account of when considering results. This error will be reasonably small for the majority of Northern Ireland level results but care should be taken when looking at results based on smaller breakdowns.

Respondents

The Continuous Household Survey is a Northern Ireland wide household survey administered by Central Survey Unit, Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency. The sample for this survey consists of a systematic random sample of 8,940 addresses selected from the NISRA address register. The findings reported for 2023/24 are based on 2,439 respondents, aged 16 and over.

The number of respondents who answered each question, i.e. the base number, is stated in the commentary and/or the associated chart. The base number is the unweighted count.

Some questions were only asked if the respondent had answered ‘yes’ to a previous question. The base number may also vary between questions due to some respondents not answering certain questions.

Weighting

Analysis of the Public Transport and Journey Planning module of the CHS has been weighted for non-response.

A chi square goodness-of-fit test showed that the CHS sample was not representative of the population by age and sex when compared with the 2022 Mid Year Population Estimates for Northern Ireland NISRA 31 August 30 2023. As a result, separate weights were produced for age and sex, and combinations of these variables.

Non-response weighting sometimes increases standard errors, although the impact tends to be fairly small, i.e. the adjustment may be less or greater than 1, but will generally be reasonably close to 1. In the case of the walking, cycling and public transport modules of the CHS, the values of the adjustment for all three weighting systems are so close to one, it is not necessary to take account of this in the calculation of standard error and confidence intervals.

While weighting for non-response (also called post-stratification) should reduce bias, it must be acknowledged that it will not eliminate bias. The reasons individuals choose to take part in surveys are complex and depend on lots of factors specific to the individual. As a result, the non-response biases in surveys are likely to be complex. Post-stratification works on the assumption that, by aligning the survey to the population along a small number of dimensions such as age, gender and MDM, many of these complex biases will reduce. However, it would be misleading to suggest that they will be eliminated.

Confidence Intervals

No sample is likely to reflect precisely the characteristics of the population it is drawn from because of both sampling and non-sampling errors. An estimate of the amount of error due to the sampling process can be calculated. For a simple random sample design, in which every member of the sampled population has an equal and independent chance of inclusion in the sample, the sampling error of any percentage, p, can be calculated by the formula: s.e. (p) = √(p*(100 – p)/n where n is the number of respondents on which the percentage is based. The sample for the Continuous Household Survey is drawn as a random sample, and thus this formula can be used to calculate the sampling error of any percentage estimate from the survey.

Multiple Response Questions
Multiple response questions are those for which respondents can give more than one response if they wish. In such questions, when individual percentages are summed they may add to more than 100%.

Rounding Conventions
Percentages have been rounded to whole numbers and as a consequence some percentages may not sum to 100.

0% may reflect rounding down of values under 0.5.

Significant Difference
Any statements in this report regarding differences between groups such as males and females, different age groups, dependant status, etc., are statistically significant at the 95% confidence level. This means that we can be 95% confident that the differences between groups are actual differences and have not just arisen by chance. Both the base numbers and the sizes of the percentages have an effect on statistical significance.

Therefore on occasion, a difference between two groups may be statistically significant while the same difference in percentage points between two other groups may not be statistically significant. The reason for this is because the larger the base numbers or the closer the percentages are to 0 or 100, the smaller the standard errors. This leads to increased precision of the estimates which increases the likelihood that the difference between the proportions is actually significant and did not just arise by chance.

Respondent Groups
The following respondent groups were considered:

Age group
The age of the respondent is grouped into the following age bands: 16-24, 25-34, 35-49, 50,-64, 65 and over.

Sex
Sex of respondent is defined as whether the respondent is male or female.

Urban and rural areas
Urban and rural areas have been classified using the statistical classification of settlements defined by the Inter-Departmental Urban-Rural Definition Group.

  • Bands A to E are classified as Urban. This includes Belfast Metropolitan Urban Area (Band A), Derry Urban Area (Band B) and large, medium and small towns (Bands C-E) with populations greater than or equal to 5,000 people.
  • Bands F to H are classified as rural. This includes intermediate settlements (Band F), villages (Band G) and small villages, hamlets and open countryside (Band H) with populations of less than 5,000 people and including open countryside.

Local Government District
Local Government Districts include the 11 district council areas:

Antrim and Newtownabbey
Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon
Belfast
Causeway Coast and Glens
Derry and Strabane
Fermanagh and Omagh
Lisburn and Castlereagh
Mid and East Antrim
Mid Ulster
Newry, Mourne and Down
North Down and Ards

Multiple Deprivation Measure

The measures, known as NIMDM 2017, were informed through public consultation and Steering Group agreement, and provide a mechanism for ranking the 890 Super Output areas (SOAs) in Northern Ireland from the most deprived (rank 1) to the least deprived (rank 890).

They include ranks of the areas for each of 7 distinct types (or domains) of deprivation, which have been combined to produce an overall multiple deprivation measure (MDM) rank of the areas.

Deprivation quintiles

1 - Most deprived 2 3 4 5 - Least deprived

Disability

‘Disability’ is measured using ‘limiting long-standing illness’. Respondents are defined as having a limiting long standing illness if they have any physical or mental health conditions or illnesses lasting or expected to last for 12 months or more, and the condition(s) or illness(es) reduce their ability to carry out day to day activities.

Appendix B: Confidence intervals

A confidence interval represents the range of values in which the true population value is likely to lie. It is based on the sample estimate and the confidence level. As the percentages are calculated from a representative sample of the Northern Ireland population (aged 16 and over), a confidence interval can be calculated to estimate the level of uncertainty in the sample estimate.

95% confidence intervals were calculated for the headline figures. Table B1 summarizes the confidence intervals for satisfaction with Walking, Cycling and Public Transport in Northern Ireland.

Table B1: Confidence intervals for Active and Sustainable Travel in Northern Ireland

Measure Estimate (%) Sample (n) 95% Confidence Range +/- Confidence Interval
% who use public transport at least once a year 61 2,430 2 59-63%
% who are satisfied with the current public transport situation and facilities in their local area at present. 76 2,226 2 74-78%
% who feel ‘very safe’ using public transport. 64 2,296 1 63-65%

  • The 95% confidence interval for respondents who use public transport at least once a year is 61% +/- 2%. This means that there is a 95% probability that the proportion of the Northern Ireland adult population who use public transport at least once a year lies between 59% and 63%.

  • The 95% confidence interval for respondents who are satisfied with the current public transport situation and facilities in their local area at present is 76% +/- 2%. This means that there is a 95% probability that the proportion of the Northern Ireland adult population who are satisfied with the current public transport situation and facilities in their local area at present lies between 74% and 78%.

  • The 95% confidence interval for respondents who feel ‘very safe’ public transport situation and facilities in their local area at present is 64% +/- 1%. This means that there is a 95% probability that the proportion of the Northern Ireland adult population who feel ‘very safe’ using public transport lies between 62% and 64%.

Appendix C: Active and Sustainable Travel in Northern Ireland Questionnaire

ACTIVE AND SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL

PUBLIC TRANSPORT & JOURNEY PLANNING

[PUBTRAN1] I am now going to ask a few questions about public transport use. How often do you travel on public transport? INSTRUCTION: THIS WOULD BE TRAVEL ON NI RAIL, ULSTERBUS, METRO OR THE GLIDER

  1. Every day
  2. At least once a week
  3. At least once every 2-3 weeks
  4. At least once a month
  5. Once every 2-3 months
  6. Once every 6 months
  7. Once a year
  8. Less frequently
  9. Never →[TLINK5a]

[PUBTRAN2] Which public transport services do you use? CODE ALL THAT APPLY SHOWCARD 69

  1. Glider
  2. Metro
  3. Ulsterbus
  4. NI Rail
  5. Other e.g. commercial operator

[PUBTRAN2oth] Please specify

[TLINK5a] In general, are you satisfied with public transport in your local area at present?

  1. Yes

  2. No [TLINK6b] If TLINK5a = Yes For which of these reasons are you satisfied with public transport in your local area? If TLINK5a = No May I ask, are there any reasons that you are satisfied with public transport in your local area? RUNNING PROMPT - CODE ALL THAT APPLY SHOWCARD 70

  3. Reliability of service

  4. Quality of service

  5. Frequency of service

  6. Cost

  7. Ease of use

  8. Good access to information about services

  9. Accessibility

  10. None

  11. Other -> [TLINK6both] [TLINK6both] Please specify

[TLINK6] If TLINK5a = No For which of these reasons are you not satisfied with public transport in your local area? If TLINK5a = Yes May I ask, are there any reasons that you are not satisfied with public transport in your local area? RUNNING PROMPT - CODE ALL THAT APPLY SHOWCARD 71

  1. No service available
  2. Frequency of service
  3. Quality of service
  4. Reliability of service
  5. Cost
  6. Not enough information about services
  7. Poorly maintained vehicles / facilities
  8. Accessibility
  9. None
  10. Other → [TLINK6oth]

[TLINK6oth] Please specify

Asked if PUBTRAN1 does not = 9 [TLINK9] Which of the following reasons encourages you to use public transport? CODE ALL THAT APPLY SHOWCARD 72

  1. I find it convenient
  2. It is a cheap way to travel
  3. It is free
  4. I enjoy it
  5. Environmental reasons
  6. It is the only form of travel that is accessible to me
  7. It saves time (for example to avoid traffic jams)
  8. I have no car
  9. I cannot drive
  10. I don’t like driving
  11. It is the most suitable travel for me
  12. There are no suitable alternatives
  13. Other -> [TLINK9oth]

[TLINK9oth] Please specify

[PTSAFE1] IF PUBTRAN1 <> 9 In terms of crime and personal safety, how safe do you feel when using public transport? Would you say you feel … IF PUBTRAN1 = 9 In terms of crime and personal safety, how safe would you feel if you were to use public transport? Would you say you feel … RUNNING PROMPT

  1. Very safe
  2. Fairly safe
  3. A bit unsafe
  4. Or very unsafe?

Ask if [PUBTRAN1] =<>9 [PTSAFE2] During the last 12 months since [date year ago], have you been the victim of a crime while using public transport?

  1. Yes → [PTSAFE3]
  2. No → [TLINK1]

[PTSAFE3] How many times has this happened? 1…..99

[TLINK1] I am now going to ask a few questions about public transport journey planning. Which of the following methods that can be used to plan journeys by public transport are you aware of? RUNNING PROMPT - CODE ALL THAT APPLY – SHOWCARD 73

  1. Timetable - hard copy
  2. Timetable - on Translink website
  3. Translink call centre
  4. Translink journey planner - personal computer/laptop
  5. Translink journey planner - mobile app
  6. Timetable on other operator’s websitet
  7. None  [eCARintro]

Asked if PUBTRAN1 does not = 9 [TLINK3] Which of these methods do you use to plan your journeys by public transport? RUNNING PROMPT - CODE ALL THAT APPLY – SHOWCARD 74

  1. Timetable - hard copy
  2. Timetable - on Translink website
  3. Translink call centre
  4. Translink journey planner - personal computer/laptop
  5. Translink journey planner - mobile appion
  6. Other  [TLINK3oth]
  7. I don’t use public transport  [eCARintro] [TLINK3oth] Please specify the other method

Asked if selected more than one response to [TLINK3] [TLINK4] And which one of these methods do you use most often?

  1. Timetable - hard copy
  2. Timetable - on Translink website
  3. Translink call centre
  4. Translink journey planner - personal computer/laptop
  5. Translink journey planner - mobile app
  6. Timetable on other operator’s website
  7. Other [TLINK4oth]

[TLINK4oth] Please specify the other method

Open Government Licence

You may re-use this information (excluding logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Open Government Licence logo © Crown Copyright 2020

To view this licence visit: Open Government Licence

or email:

Where we have identified any third party copyright information, you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.