Subscriber Login
The International Association of Public Transport (UITP) conducted a survey to assess the key characteristics of urban bus fleets in the EU. Responses were received from 173 undertakings in 171 cities, covering a fleet of 70,000 buses and trolleybuses and serving a population of over 120 million. Key information regarding the proportion of solo and articulated buses, and the proportion of bus fleet used during peak hours, is presented in the following tables.
Country-wise Proportion of Articulated Buses and Buses Used at Peak Time
Country |
Articulated buses (%) |
Sample size (no. of buses) |
Bus fleet used during peak time (%) |
Sample size (no. of buses) |
Austria |
52.5 |
842 |
80.6 |
842 |
Belgium |
12.1 |
1,710 |
83.4 |
1,710 |
Bulgaria1 |
60.1 |
647 |
71.1 |
647 |
Czech Republic1 |
26.8 |
1,547 |
77.2 |
1,536 |
Denmark |
4.5 |
1,326 |
83.3 |
1,326 |
Estonia |
32.0 |
543 |
79.2 |
543 |
Finland |
0.0 |
648 |
95.4 |
648 |
France |
15.2 |
9,706 |
87.8 |
9,521 |
Germany |
40.8 |
6,321 |
86.5 |
5,637 |
Greece1 |
21.6 |
2,680 |
88.0 |
2,099 |
Hungary |
45.6 |
1,618 |
79.6 |
1,618 |
Ireland |
1.8 |
1,082 |
89.0 |
1,082 |
Italy |
10.9 |
11,505 |
73.2 |
10,130 |
Latvia |
- |
0 |
90.9 |
482 |
Lithuania1 |
34.5 |
528 |
87.8 |
508 |
Luxembourg |
32.5 |
126 |
74.6 |
126 |
Malta |
0.0 |
508 |
53.1 |
508 |
Netherlands1 |
20.7 |
468 |
86.7 |
684 |
Poland |
47.0 |
3,792 |
82.1 |
3,662 |
Portugal |
10.0 |
1,977 |
86.6 |
1,977 |
Romania1 |
3.6 |
1,774 |
81.1 |
1,774 |
Slovakia1 |
57.8 |
498 |
71.7 |
498 |
Slovenia1 |
55.8 |
267 |
84.3 |
267 |
Spain |
10.8 |
5,245 |
88.6 |
5,182 |
Sweden |
50.1 |
2,486 |
89.6 |
569 |
UK1 |
3.5 |
12,272 |
88.0 |
11,084 |
Total |
19.1 |
70,116 |
83.6 |
64,660 |
Note: 1) Data from these countries must be considered with care as their response rate to the survey is relatively low.
Source: Issue 1, Public Transport Statistics Report, UITP
Population-wise Proportion of Articulated Buses and Buses at Peak Time (urban and suburban networks)
Population covered |
Articulated buses (%) |
Sample size (no. of buses) |
Bus fleet used during peak time (%) |
Sample size (no. of buses) |
Between 100,000 and 250,000 |
21.3 |
6,267 |
83.1 |
6,069 |
Between 250,000 and 500,000 |
20.3 |
12,075 |
77.4 |
10,682 |
Between 500,000 and 1,000,000 |
19.5 |
10,528 |
85.5 |
10,759 |
Above 1,000,000 |
18.3 |
41,246 |
85.0 |
37,150 |
Total |
19.1 |
70,116 |
83.6 |
64,660 |
Source: Issue 1, Public Transport Statistics Report, UITP
Proportion of articulated buses and buses used during peak time, by bus class
Population covered |
Articulated buses (%) |
Sample size (no. of buses) |
Bus fleet used during peak time (%) |
Sample size (no. of buses) |
Class I1 |
23.0 |
55,631 |
82.6 |
51,395 |
Class II1 |
3.9 |
14,485 |
87.7 |
13,265 |
Total |
19.1 |
70,116 |
83.6 |
64,660 |
Note: 1) EU Directive 2001/85/EC defines vehicles with seated places and standing areas that allow frequent movement as Class I, and vehicles principally designed for transport of seated passengers with some standing areas as Class II.
Source: Issue 1, Public Transport Statistics Report, UITP