Tallinn’s night bus services see ridership increase in summer 2024

Tallinn's night bus services experienced a notable rise in ridership during May and June 2024. This surge followed the introduction of six night bus lines, with routes to Mustamäe and Lasnamäe proving particularly popular.

Deputy Mayor Kristjan Järvan highlighted the success of the night bus initiative, drawing comparisons to similar schemes in other European capitals. He remarked, "Jokingly, one might say that Tallinn’s public transport has improved so much that people prefer riding the buses at night over sleeping at home. On a more serious note, the user numbers clearly show a demand for this service among city residents."

User satisfaction is high, particularly regarding safety, as the night buses offer a more affordable and sustainable alternative to taxis. Data from January to April showed an average weekend ridership of 1,400 to 1,650 passengers. However, in May and June, this figure jumped to over 2,000, coinciding with an increase in late-night cultural events in the city centre. Specifically, May saw an average of 2,150 night bus users each weekend, which rose to 2,440 in June.

While similar numbers were recorded during the previous summer, it is worth noting that the night buses also operated on Thursday nights during the pilot phase. The adjustments made to schedules and operating days post-pilot have evidently enhanced the service's efficiency.

The peak usage of night buses occurs between 00:30 and 02:00 on early Saturday and Sunday mornings, with the 00:30 departure being the most favoured.

Natalie Mets, Tallinn’s Nighttime Advisor, underscored the safety benefits of the night buses. "In over a year of night bus operations, there have been no serious incidents. This confirms that night buses are a safe way to travel at night," she stated.

Tallinn’s night bus lines include routes 91 to Mustamäe, 92 to Väike-Õismäe, 93 to Pelguranna, 94 to Priisle, 95 to Viimsi keskus, and 96 to Vana-Pääsküla, all starting from the county lines stop at Balti jaam. These buses operate from 00:30 to 03:30 on Saturdays and Sundays at 30-minute intervals.

Author: Jonathan De Vriendt

Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not reflect those of the European Commission.