Transport Act 1968

19 Transfer of control of bus services to Executive

(1) At any time after the Minister has received from the Authority for a designated area a copy of the statement prepared by that Authority and the Executive for that area under section 18(1) of this Act, the Minister may by order direct that this section shall apply to that area as from such date as may be appointed by the order.

(2) As from the date appointed in relation to any area under subsection (1) of this section, no person other than the Executive or a subsidiary of theirs shall provide an area bus service in that area except in pursuance of an agreement with the Executive or, in the case of an existing service within the meaning of Schedule 6 to this Act, with the consent of the Executive granted under that Schedule; but in the case of a service part only of which is operated as an area bus service in that area any provision with respect to the carriage of passengers other than those who are both taken up and set down in that area which is contained in any such agreement shall be of no effect if or so far as it is inconsistent with any condition for the time being attached to any road service licence under which the service is provided.

(3) Notwithstanding anything in Part III of the Act of 1960—

(a) no road service licence shall be required for the provision of any bus service operated wholly within an area to which this section applies ; and

(b) where such a licence is granted in respect of a bus service operated in part as an area bus service in such an area, no condition shall be attached to the licence with respect to the carriage of passengers who are both taken up and set down in that area;

and, on the day on which this section first applies to any particular designated area, any such licence in force immediately before that date, if or so far as that licence relates to the operation of an area bus service in that area, and any condition attached to such a licence, if or so far as that condition relates to the carriage of passengers who are both taken up and set down in that area, shall cease to have effect.

(4) If any person provides a bus service in contravention of subsection (2) of this section, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £200; but in England or Wales proceedings for an offence under this subsection shall not be instituted except by or on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions, or by or with the authority of the Executive for a designated area or a chief officer of police.