Bus punctuality measuring: Call for evidence ‘shortly’

A call for evidence will be issued “shortly” on the long-promised review of how bus punctuality is measured, the Traffic Commissioners (TCs) have revealed in their annual report for 2021-22. 

The TCs first outlined steps towards a review of bus punctuality in their annual report for 2018-19. In that, they questioned whether the established six-minute window of tolerance remains fit for purpose and committed to examining and modernising the approach to performance measurement. 

In the 2021-22 report, the TCs acknowledge that such work “has taken longer than planned,” although they note that resources have been utilised elsewhere to support their regulated industries through the COVID-19 pandemic. 

However, “informal discussions” have already been held with several stakeholders and the imminent call for evidence will seek to gather wider views from others in that field.

Underlining comments made in 2019 about increased digital visibility of schedule adherence, the recently published report notes that the TCs continue to work with the Department for Transport (DfT) and DVSA on how the Bus Open Data Service (BODS) in England can assist the task of regulating service performance. 

“As [BODS] becomes more established, the benefits can be fully realised,” the TCs say. “It is hoped that those… will include more cases of poor performance being referred to Traffic Commissioners for consideration.” TCs are also working with DfT and others to ensure that operators comply with BODS requirements “and identify those operators that do not engage or comply with their obligations.” 

In first outlining work to review bus punctuality measuring in 2019, the TCs said that when it is complete, updated guidance for stakeholders and the industry would be issued. At the same time, they noted that while the number of Public Inquiries called to examine punctuality was “extremely low,” it remained “one of the most visible aspects of our work.”