Bus and Coach Registrations Down

August bus and coach registration figures reflect a general fall in demand. At 12,597 the rolling year total fell at the end of August by 2.95 per cent. The shorter term, year to date figures show a 9.7 per cent drop over eight months. The figures, released through the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), reflect the view that operators are still not spending enough on new buses to hit the government’s fleet replacement target.

In contrast with the heavier vehicles figures, the number of light bus registration increased 23.3 per cent to 1,080. Coach registrations were also up 11.1 per cent to 832 for the eight months at the end of August. The rolling total of double deck buses was 1,378, 12 per cent less than last year’s figure. In spite of the decrease August figure is actually above the 200-2002 average of 1,206. The SMMT suggests that this is due to the fleet purchases of London buses.