S1 Type of services

We propose to include all bus services registered with the Traffic Commissioner or the Local Authority in a franchise area, within the scope of the bus open data Regulations. This includes all public bus services that require a fare, either running to a fixed, regular timetable, or bus services which have the option of missing out or including parts of a route (demand responsive transport), and community bus services. This would also put some types of bus service outside of the scope of the legislation, for example, the majority of school buses, substitute buses (for example, replacement rail services) and long-distance coach services, where the stops are over 15 miles apart.

We intend for the Regulations to only require bus operators to provide data where provision of that data is in the public interest, to avoid creating a burden on operators that has no practical benefit. For that reason, we do not believe that there is a general public interest in having to provide the route of a replacement rail service bus, which may only operate once, and will be directly communicated to rail passengers on arrival at the rail station. We do not believe it is practical for the Regulations to apply services that do not need to be registered with the Traffic Commissioner or the Local Authority, as there is no central index identifying these, and therefore it is not possible to ensure compliance with the requirements of the Regulations.

Local Bus Services

A bus service that uses public service vehicles to carry passengers who pay separate fares over short distances - usually less than 15 miles from the point of boarding. These are all public services requiring fares from passengers. Local buses can be further broken down into:

Standard service

Which is a service that runs along a fixed route in line with a timetable. It must always run at the times it is registered to do so. This also includes work, school, excursion and tour services, if separate fares are paid, and the whole journey is within a 15-mile radius of the starting point, and they run one or more times a week for at least 6 weeks in a row.

Flexible services

Which may have fixed sections of route but over the entirety of the service it isn’t practical to identify a route and timetable.

Community bus service (Section 22)

A local bus service registered with the traffic commissioner but operated without a view to profit and are concerned for the social and welfare needs of one or more communities. A community bus permit allows the service to carry members of the general public.

Local Transport Authority - Franchised Service

Where a franchise scheme is in place, the Local Transport Authority is responsible for all registration functions for services operated in the scheme area.

• long-distance services where passengers cannot get off within 15 miles;
• school or college bus services if the only passengers who pay fares are either studying at a school or college, supervising pupils or students, or teachers or assistants working at the school or college;
• substitution services for railway services which have been temporarily interrupted, provided under an agreement entered into with the Secretary of State, the Scottish Ministers or the National Assembly for Wales;
• Not for profit community transfer services operated under a section 19 permit;
• excursions or tours, except those that operate at least once a week for a period of at least six consecutive weeks;
• free services where travel on a vehicle is not dependent on a payment of separate fares, for example some supermarkets contract operators to provide a free service to bring customers to their stores. Provided no fares are charged and a passenger can travel on the vehicle without obligation it is likely that the service will not require to be registered.