An investigation by a neutral oversight body has revealed that public bus services in Warwickshire rank highest nationwide based on passenger views.
Warwickshire County Council expressed great satisfaction with the findings of the 2025-26 passenger experience poll, conducted by the independent monitor Transport Focus, which revealed a 93 percent overall satisfaction level.
This represents the inaugural year the county took part in the respected annual poll, which gathered information across a full year spanning February 2025 through January 2026. The 93 percent figure places Warwickshire at the top among all local authority regions, substantially above the England-wide mean of 85 percent.
The poll, which gathered input from 1,000 travellers via on-vehicle conversations and station-based questionnaires at prominent sites including Leamington Parade and Nuneaton Bus Station, establishes a detailed standard for the Warwickshire Bus Enhanced Partnership scheme.
Mark Ryder, the council’s Communities Director, remarked that given this marked the inaugural administration of the passenger survey in the county, the results are highly gratifying and confirm that efforts to provide a quality bus network for residents are proving successful.
He noted that buses form a vital part of communities, linking individuals to employment, schooling and necessary services while easing traffic and supporting environmental objectives. The council intends to leverage this thorough understanding to maintain an accessible, dependable and affordable offering for all county residents.
He added that it is encouraging to see responses originating from throughout Warwickshire, which will guide continued investment into network enhancements and reflects the dedication of council staff and partners within the Enhanced Partnership.
The suggestion to employ Transport Focus’s rigorous independent figures originated from Stagecoach Midlands via the Enhanced Partnership arrangement. By moving beyond generic highway assessments, the council and operators including Stagecoach Midlands, National Express Coventry, Arriva Midlands, Diamond Buses and Flexibus now obtain more thorough data regarding overall passenger experience, assisting future improvements across information provision, customer support and driver development.
The positive responses from the passenger survey complement the ongoing programme to upgrade the county’s bus network.
The council is presently implementing enhancements to the network in collaboration with operators alongside the current two-year initiative covering 2025-26 and 2026-27, supported by the 13.149 million pound allocation provided to the council by the Department for Transport. The improvements include sustaining and enhancing principal routes, upgrading stops with new shelters, installing additional Real Time Information screens at major stops throughout the county, implementing highway measures to give buses priority and cut journey times, further promotional activities encouraging public transport use, improved stop information on key corridors and a new contactless payment card allowing smooth travel across multiple operators on main routes.
Additionally, National Express Coventry and Stagecoach Midlands have allocated funds to transition their fleets to fully electric zero-emission models, supported by the Department for Transport and the council. Electric vehicles now comprise more than half of the entire county bus fleet.
The council anticipates receiving further external funding from the Department for Transport to expand the network between 2026 and 2030 through additional measures detailed in the Bus Service Improvement Plan.
Louise Collins, Director at Transport Focus, commented that Warwickshire’s notable 93 percent satisfaction figure demonstrates a network genuinely meeting passenger requirements.
She stated this illustrates what becomes possible when authorities and operators collaborate closely. The organisation looks forward to assisting Warwickshire as it builds upon this foundation of success.