Part II

Local transport

Bus services: enhanced partnership plans and schemes

Requirements in respect of local services
138C
1
An enhanced partnership scheme may specify under section 138A(5)(b) requirements about the frequency or timing of particular local services or local services of particular descriptions.
2
A requirement falling within subsection (1) may, in particular, determine the frequency or timing allowed in relation to a local service—
a
by reference only to that service, or
b
by reference to that service and other local services, taken together.
3
An enhanced partnership scheme may specify under section 138A(5)(b) other requirements as to the standard of services to be provided.
4
The other requirements referred to in subsection (3) include—
a
requirements which the vehicles being used to provide local services, or particular descriptions of local services, must meet,
b
requirements about enabling tickets to be purchased or fares to be paid in particular ways,
c
requirements about enabling entitlement to travel to be evidenced in particular ways,
d
requirements about providing information to the public about local services or particular descriptions of local services,
e
requirements as to the publicising of local services, fares or ticketing arrangements or particular descriptions of local services, fares or ticketing arrangements,
f
requirements as to the appearance of tickets for local services or particular descriptions of local services,
g
requirements as to the appearance of vehicles being used to provide local services or particular descriptions of local services,
h
requirements as to the prices of multi-operator tickets,
i
requirements as to dates upon which operators may change the timing of local services or particular descriptions of local services, and
j
requirements as to ticketing arrangements.
5
The requirements that may be specified under subsection (4)(a) include—
a
requirements about providing information to passengers by placing particular electronic equipment, or electronic equipment of particular descriptions, in vehicles, and
b
requirements about emissions or types of fuel or power.
6
The requirements that may be specified under subsection (4)(b) include requirements about the persons from whom tickets may be purchased or to whom fares may be paid.
7
The requirements that may be specified under subsection (4)(j) include—
a
requirements to make arrangements for—
i
travel to, within or through particular areas,
ii
travel at particular times,
iii
travel on particular local services or particular descriptions of local services,
iv
travel on particular journeys or on particular descriptions of journey, or
v
travel by persons of particular descriptions,
b
requirements to make arrangements entitling persons to make a journey, or journeys, involving both travel on one or more local services and travel by one or more connecting rail or tram services, and
c
requirements about the terms and conditions upon which such travel is made available.
8
A connecting rail or tram service, in relation to an enhanced partnership scheme, is a service for the carriage of passengers by railway or by tramway (or by both) which runs between—
a
a station or stopping place at or in the vicinity of which local services stop and which serves any part of the area to which the scheme relates, and
b
any other place.
9
The requirements that may be specified in an enhanced partnership scheme also include requirements as to operators of local services establishing and operating arrangements that facilitate the operation of the scheme.
10
A requirement imposed by an enhanced partnership scheme has effect only in relation to so much of a local service as is provided in the area to which the scheme relates.
11
An enhanced partnership scheme may not impose requirements in relation to the use of vehicles under permits granted under section 22 of the Transport Act 1985.
12
In this section “
multi-operator ticket
” means a ticket, or a number of tickets purchased in a single transaction, entitling the holder to make a journey that involves or may involve, or journeys that involve or may involve, the use of local services provided by more than one operator.
Pt. 2 applied (with modifications) (30.6.2022) by The Mid Wales Corporate Joint Committee Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/342), regs. 1(3)(b), 12(2)
Pt. 2: functions made exercisable (3.3.2017) by The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Order 2017 (S.I. 2017/251), arts. 1(2)(b), 8(b)
Pt. 2: functions made exercisable (28.2.2024) by The East Midlands Combined County Authority Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/232), regs. 1(2), 15(1)
Pt. 2: functions made exercisable (2.11.2018) by The Newcastle Upon Tyne, North Tyneside and Northumberland Combined Authority (Establishment and Functions) Order 2018 (S.I. 2018/1133), arts. 1, 9 (with art. 28)
Pt. 2 applied (with modifications) (W.) (28.2.2022) by The South East Wales Corporate Joint Committee Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/343), regs. 1(3)(b), 12(2)
Pt. 2: functions made exercisable (8.5.2017) by The Tees Valley Combined Authority (Functions and Amendment) Order 2017 (S.I. 2017/431), arts. 1(2), 4(1)(2)
Pt. 2: transfer of functions (2.11.2018) by The Newcastle Upon Tyne, North Tyneside and Northumberland Combined Authority (Establishment and Functions) Order 2018 (S.I. 2018/1133), arts. 1, 7 (with art. 28)
Ss. 138A-138S and cross-heading inserted (27.4.2017 for specified purposes, 27.6.2017 in so far as not already in force) by Bus Services Act 2017 (c. 21), ss. 9, 26(3)
Pt. 2 applied (with modifications) (30.6.2022) by The North Wales Corporate Joint Committee Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/339), regs. 1(3)(b), 12(2)
Pt. 2 applied (with modifications) (W.) (30.6.2022) by The South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/352), regs. 1(3)(b), 12(2)
Pt. 2: transfer of functions (15.4.2014) by The Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle Upon Tyne, North Tyneside, Northumberland, South Tyneside and Sunderland Combined Authority Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/1012), arts. 1, 8, 9 (with art. 11)
Pt. 2: transfer of functions (1.4.2014) by The Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, St Helens, Sefton and Wirral Combined Authority Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/865), arts. 1, 8(1)(b) (with arts. 8(4), 12)
Pt. 2: functions made exercisable (20.12.2023) by The York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/1432), arts. 1(2), 13(1)(2)
Pt. 2: functions made exercisable (9.2.2017) by The West of England Combined Authority Order 2017 (S.I. 2017/126), arts. 1(3), 8(1)
Ss. 138A-143B: functions transferred (E.) (28.2.2024) by The East Midlands Combined County Authority Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/232), regs. 1(2), 15(2)
Pt. 2: functions made exercisable (9.2.2017) by The West of England Combined Authority Order 2017 (S.I. 2017/126), arts. 1(3), 8
Pt. 2: functions made exercisable concurrently (E.) (7.5.2024) by The North East Mayoral Combined Authority (Establishment and Functions) Order 2024 (S.I. 2024/402), arts. 1(3), 19(c) (with art. 9)
Pt. 2: delegation of functions (1.4.2016) by The Tees Valley Combined Authority Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/449), arts. 1(a), 6(b)
Pt. 2: power to amend conferred (17.10.2007 for specified purposes, 1.4.2008 in so far as not already in force) by Concessionary Bus Travel Act 2007 (c. 13), ss. 8(1), 9(1)(2), 10(1)(2), 15(1); S.I. 2007/2799, arts. 2, 3 (with art. 4)
Ss. 112-159: transfer of functions (5.2.2025) by The Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority Order 2025 (S.I. 2025/113), arts. 1(2), 7
Pt. 2: functions made exercisable (5.2.2025) by The Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority Order 2025 (S.I. 2025/113), arts. 1(2), 7
Pt. 2: transfer of functions (with modifications) (5.2.2025) by The Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/115), regs. 1(2), 10
Pt. 2: functions made exercisable (with modifications) (5.2.2025) by The Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/117), regs. 1(2), 14
Pt. 2: functions made exercisable (with modifications) (5.2.2025) by The Lancashire Combined County Authority Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/118), regs. 1(2), 10