The CSO’s latest transport bulletin shows the number of passenger journeys on public transport has dropped dramatically since the start of the COVID-19 crisis.

CSO data shows that the combined number of journeys taken on public transport in the week starting 12 April was over ten times lower than those taken in the first week of March.

However, this week includes the Easter holiday.

Rail hit most severely

Rail is the mode of transport most severely hit since the onset of the crisis.

In the week of 5 April, the number of journeys undertaken was 97.2% lower than it was in the first week of March.

Rail data includes passenger journeys on Intercity and DART services.

Data on Luas journeys shows the pandemic impact has been slightly greater on the green line.

The number of journeys taken on public transport is not recovering at the same rate as road traffic volumes.

HGV volume up

The volume of HGVs is now greater than it was for the same period last year in both Dublin and in the regional locations measured, except for a slight decrease (-0.2%) in regional locations in the week beginning 2 August.

The data shows that since the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, the volume of cars is also returning to pre-pandemic levels.

The bulletin captures the impact of the COVID-19 restrictions on traffic volumes and the number of journeys taken on public transport.

Traffic counter data from selected sites shows that the volume of cars, for the week commencing 2 August, was just 12.6% lower in regional locations and 16.3% lower in Dublin than the same week in 2019.

Sites

The volume of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) measured at selected sites in Dublin since 21 June 2020 exceeds that measured for the same period in 2019

The impact of COVID-19 restrictions on rail journeys was more significant than that on journeys by bus or Luas.

The pace of recovery of road traffic volumes for cars and HGVs to pre COVID-19 levels continues to outstrip that of public transport passenger numbers.

The number of new private cars licensed in first seven months of 2020 fell by more than 31,000 vehicles compared to the same period in 2019.

Data

The bulletin is compiled using data collected by the Transport Infrastructure Ireland, the Road Safety Authority, the National Transport Authority and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.

Statistician Olive Loughnane said: “As restrictions ease, car traffic volumes for the week ending 8 August were just 12.6% lower than 2019 levels at regional locations and 16.3% lower in Dublin.

HGV traffic volumes 

“HGV traffic volumes are exceeding 2019 levels for the seventh consecutive week in selected regional locations.”

Loughnane said the number of passenger journeys on public transport has dropped dramatically since the start of the COVID-19 crisis with journeys by rail most severely hit.

Public transport volumes are recovering at a much slower rate than road traffic. Data from Irish airports shows that air transport continues to be heavily impacted by restrictions