Update to the Guide to Registering & Operating Local Bus Services in England & Wales

The Senior Traffic Commissioner's guide to registering and operating local bus services in England and Wales is intended to help operators of local bus services understand the requirements for registering a service.

It explains what is required under legislation and advises operators on how they can ensure that they are running a punctual and reliable bus service.  It also gives details of the action a Traffic Commissioner is empowered to take if a service is found to be run in breach of these requirements.

An updated version of this guide was published earlier this year.  It takes into account new legislation such as The Public Service Vehicles (Accessible Information) Regulations 2023.

The Public Services Vehicles (Accessible Information) Regulations 2023:

This Regulation aims to bring about new requirements that PSV operators of local services need to implement in their vehicles to improve the accessibility of information for passengers.  The regulation came into force on 1st October 2023, with a planned 'phased implementation period', especially for older vehicles and buses which are already largely compliant.

The key implementation deadlines to be aware of are as follows:

• For vehicles first in use on or after 1st October 2019 - and for any new community bus service - the regulations apply from 1st October 2024.
• For vehicles first in use on or after 1st October 2014 and on or before 30th September 2019, the regulations apply from 1st October 2025.
• For vehicles first in use on or after 1st January 1973 and on or before 30th September 2014, the regulations apply from 1st October 2026.
• There is an 'extended implementation period' of 1st October 2031 to reach full compliance with the requirements for vehicles which are deemed 'partially compliant' as of 1st October 2023.

Under these Regulations, passengers must be given route information, route termination information, stopping place information, diversion information, and information about hail and ride services.

This information must be in audio and visual form and both forms need to contain information that is 'consistent with one another'.  Operators of local services also need to be aware that passengers should not be required to use a personal electronic device to receive relevant information.

The Regulations are enforced by the Traffic Commissioner, who has the power to investigate non-compliance and even suspend or revoke operator licences.

How are these Updates Relevant to Me?

If you are an operator of PSVs, it is important to be aware of these new changes and to start thinking of ways to implement these in your vehicles by the relevant implementation deadline as set out above.

If you have any questions regarding implementation these changes, or more generally as an operator of PSVs on transport regulation and compliance, then please click here to send us an email, or call us directly on 01279 818280.  We are here to help.

(c) Richard Pelly - June 2024