Source · Select Committees · Transport Committee
Recommendation 17
17
Deferred
Bring forward proposals for guidance on integrating bus timetables with other transport modes
Conclusion
The Department should bring forward proposals as part of its upcoming Integrated National Transport Strategy for guidance on how local authorities and transport providers can achieve more effective integration between bus timetables and those of other transport modes. (Recommendation, Paragraph 65) Facilitating the transition to franchising
Government response summary AI-generated
The government acknowledges the importance of the issue for the DRT sector but deflects responsibility for VAT policy to HMT, stating DfT will continue to highlight sector concerns rather than addressing the recommendation for guidance on bus timetable integration.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government · verbatim extract
Deferred
The Government will set its long-term vision for transport in England through the Integrated National Transport Strategy (INTS), putting people and the journeys they make at the heart of how we plan, build and operate transport. Throughout our engagement to inform the Strategy, we heard from stakeholders and members of the public that they want improved timetabling to help enhance their overall journey experience and to better integrate different modes of transport, and this is an area the Department has been exploring as the Strategy develops. In response to these views, we have been considering how the INTS could set clearer direction on improving timetable coordination across modes to support local authorities and transport providers. Work to date has suggested that co-ordinating timetables can be challenging to achieve in practice with one bus or rail service often connecting with multiple others, but there are potential opportunities to use data and AI to optimise integration for passengers. The Government’s reforms to improve bus services can also help to deliver greater integration with other transport modes. For example, under bus franchising arrangements the local authority can take control of the bus network including setting routes, timetables and fares. The Department for Transport’s updated guidance to local authorities on franchising also makes clear that the franchising assessment should consider how bus services will be integrated with other modes and timetables coordinated where appropriate, and whether the franchise will also cover other modes such as light rail or cycle hire. EPs can also be used to better integrate bus timetables with other modes such as rail, as set out in our EPs guidance.
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