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Punctuality plunged, a record number of vehicles were parked for repairs and complaints soared to record levels — and yet, Montreal’s transit authority saw a slight increase in bus ridership last year.

There were 637,908 more trips taken on city buses in 2018 compared with the year before — an increase of 0.28 per cent.

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It was the first time since 2013 that bus ridership grew.

The figures, obtained through an access-to-information request, show 142 of 220 bus lines saw an increase in passengers.

And yet, 2018 was a trying one for the Société de transport de Montréal.

Because of a labour crisis in the maintenance department, an average of 1,341 buses out of a fleet of 1,807 were available for morning and afternoon peak periods.

That represents the lowest number in a decade, and far less than the 1,424 required to deliver full service.

The number of complaints soared by 32 per cent, and the on-time rate of buses was a meagre 79.5 per cent — the lowest since 2001, according to statistics from the STM’s website.