The new data compiled by London Buses shows that since congestion charging started on February 17th:

• In the first week of the charge, 9.5 per cent more passengers traveled than in the same week last year. In the second week the year-on-year increase was more than 10 per cent. Together with other improvements introduced in the last year, this has encouraged five million passengers to use buses each weekday;
• Bus speeds in the morning peak in the charging zone have increased by 15 per cent (from 10.4 to 12 kilometres per hour);
• Delays to buses caused by traffic congestion halved in the first two weeks
• Excess waiting time (the additional time waited by passengers over and above the route schedule) reduced by 23 per cent in the first two weeks of the scheme in the charging zone; and
• Early research shows that there are 6000 more bus passengers travelling to central London in the morning peak hour, compared to counts taken in autumn 2002, an increase of 14 per cent.
• The number of buses to the zone increased by 19 per cent over the same period.

Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said:

"Improved journey speeds and 6000 more people choosing the bus to get to central London in the rush hour is extremely encouraging.

"TfL with the bus operators have delivered impressive improvements to the entire network over the last 12 months - more buses, better reliability and security and improved passenger information. Funds raised from the charge will help us continue to make buses even better."

Seventy-five services to the zone in the morning peak hour benefited from the biggest single package of improvements for decades. Highlights of boosted services include:

• 18-metre bendy buses on route 436 Lewisham to Paddington; 507 (Waterloo - Lambeth Bridge - Victoria); 521 (Waterloo - Cannon Street - London Bridge) and 453 (Deptford Broadway - Marylebone).
• New services between Covent Garden and Tower Bridge; Camberwell and Shepherd's Bush; Fulham and Maida Vale; Elephant and Castle and South Kensington; Hackney Wick and Mansion House and Northumberland Park and Euston;
• Double decks replaced single decks on ten routes and more than 300 extra buses to boost at least fifty services.