The start of the Easter holidays took Tube passengers numbers to their highest rate for more than two years, it can be revealed.
The number of journeys on the London Underground last Sunday hit 87 per cent of “normal” pre-pandemic levels, equating to 1.72m trips.
Bus passenger numbers on Sunday reached 83 per cent of levels seen in 2019, while both the Tube and bus networks recorded 80 per cent on the Saturday, according to the Department for Transport.
Transport for London believes the spike may have been driven by Londoners heading off on holiday or visiting relatives. Sunday also saw Tottenham and West Ham home games.
However weekday Tube figures remain typically stuck at between 60 to 67 per cent of previous levels – showing how many Londoners continue to work from home but are increasingly getting out at weekends.
Monday’s Tube journeys were at 59 per cent of normal, equating to 2.21m trips, with 72 per cent on the buses (3.91m journeys).
This increased on Tuesday to 63 per cent on the Tube (2.48m journeys) and 74 per cent on the buses (4.16m journeys).
Wednesday’s figures were 65 per cent on the Tube (2.57m journeys) and 72 per cent on the buses (4.08m journeys).
Transport for London modelling now indicates that “hybrid” working could mean it will take until 2026 before overall demand reaches 96 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, according to evidence given to a House of Lords inquiry.
National rail journeys fell back to 70 per cent on Monday, having been at 79 per cent two weeks earlier - likely to be a consequence of the start of the two-week school holidays.
