Passenger bus and urban transit, 2024
Released: 2026-07-22
$33.9 billion
2024
11.2% 
(year-over-year change)
Highlights
Total revenue for passenger bus and urban transit companies operating in Canada rose 11.2% year over year to $33.9 billion in 2024, with urban transit agencies accounting for more than three-quarters ($2.6 billion) of the increase. All segments of the passenger bus and urban transit sector continue to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic albeit at different rates.
Chart 1
Total revenue percentage change (year over year)
Urban transit recovery is slow but steady
For urban transit operators, total passenger trips increased 10.8% year over year to 2.0 billion in 2024. While ridership has recovered steadily but slowly each year since 2021, passenger trips in 2024 remained well below pre-pandemic levels, representing 79.5% of the 2019 level.
Nevertheless, urban transit remained the largest industry segment in 2024, with revenues totalling $28.3 billion, representing 83.5% of the industry total. This included operating subsidies of $8.7 billion.
Chart 2
Ridership recovery rate for urban transit systems compared with 2019
Charter and sightseeing companies bounce back
Canada's 120 charter and sightseeing bus companies recorded a 3.8% increase in revenue to $700.8 million in 2024, reaching an all-time high and surpassing the previously highest level recorded in 2019 ($681.1 million).
Charter and sightseeing carriers' growth coincided with a recovery in tourism activity in recent years. For example, domestic trips by Canadians for holiday, leisure or recreation, or to visit friends and relatives reached nearly 229 million in 2024, up 3.0% from 2023.
Other industry segments mixed
The revenue of Canada's 16 interurban and rural transportation companies (or intercity companies) rose 2.5% year over year to $293.2 million in 2024. This segment of the industry was hard hit by the impact of pandemic-related travel restrictions and by the 2021 cancellation of all routes in Canada by the largest carrier, Greyhound Canada. However, in 2024, a restructured intercity industry surpassed, at least in nominal terms, pre-pandemic 2019 revenues for the second year in a row.
Total revenue at 363 school and employee bus transportation companies rose 16.3% year over year to $3.6 billion in total revenue in 2024. This marks the second year-over-year increase and highest level since 2021. Meanwhile, the number of school buses increased 11.3% to 46,510 buses on higher demand.
Total capital expenditures for all passenger bus and urban transit industries combined rose 22.2% to $15.9 billion in 2024. The other capital expenditure category, which includes expenses that cover physical assets and infrastructure required to house and maintain the bus network, for example, reached $14.0 billion, with the purchase of buses and other rolling stock accounting for the rest. Urban transit agencies accounted for 96.6% of the total.
Note to readers
The Annual Passenger Bus and Urban Transit Survey collects financial and operating information from companies operating in Canada.
Data for 2023 have been revised based on updated information.
The survey covers the following North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 2017 industries: urban transit systems (NAICS 485110); interurban and rural bus transportation (485210); school and employee bus transportation (485410); charter bus industry (485510); other transit and ground passenger transportation (485990); and scenic and sightseeing transportation, land (487110).
Prior to reference year 2022, a growing number of ridesharing operators (i.e., drivers) were classified to the Other transit and ground passenger transportation (NAICS 485990) industry. With the 2022 NAICS update, ridesharing operators are now classified in taxi services (NAICS 485310), which is not covered by this survey. The impact of including ridesharing operators in the other transit and ground passenger transportation industry is estimated to be about 1.5% of total other transit and ground passenger transportation revenues. For further information, please send an email to the following address: (statcan.transportationstatistics-statistiquesdutransport.statcan@statcan.gc.ca).
The Transportation Data and Information Hub, featuring data from Statistics Canada, Transport Canada and partners, provides Canadians with online access to comprehensive statistics and indicators for the country's transportation sector.
Contact information
For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or Media Relations (statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca).
- Date modified: