Advanced ticketing schemes

Advanced ticketing schemes
7
In Part 2 of the Transport Act 2000, after section 134B insert—

Bus services: advanced ticketing schemes

Advanced ticketing schemes
134C
1
A local transport authority whose area is in England, or two or more such authorities acting jointly, may make a ticketing scheme (an “advanced ticketing scheme”) covering the whole or any part of their area, or combined area, if they consider that the proposed scheme—
a
would be in the interests of the public, and
b
would contribute to the implementation of their local transport policies.
2
An advanced ticketing scheme may not be made unless the authority or authorities have complied with the notice and consultation requirements imposed by section 134D.
3
An advanced ticketing scheme is a scheme under which operators of local services of a class specified in it are required to make and implement arrangements under which persons may purchase, in a single transaction, a ticket (or tickets) of any of the descriptions which may be covered by an advanced ticketing scheme and to which the scheme applies.
4
The descriptions of tickets which may be covered by an advanced ticketing scheme are—
a
tickets entitling the holder to make more than one journey on particular local services or on local services of a class specified in the scheme (whether or not operated by the same person),
b
tickets entitling the holder to make a particular journey on two or more local services (whether or not operated by the same person),
c
where a particular journey could be made on local services provided by any of two or more operators, tickets entitling the holder to make the journey on whichever service the holder chooses, and
d
tickets entitling the holder to make a journey, or more than one journey, involving both travel on one or more local services and travel by one or more connecting rail or tram services.
5
A connecting rail or tram service, in relation to an advanced ticketing 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 ticketing scheme relates, and
b
any other place.
6
The arrangements in an advanced ticketing scheme may make provision for different types of ticket including, in particular—
a
tickets that are valid for a specified period, and
b
tickets that are valid only in a specified area.
7
The arrangements in an advanced ticketing scheme may include—
a
provision about enabling tickets to be purchased or fares to be paid in particular ways,
b
provision about the persons from whom tickets may be purchased or to whom fares may be paid,
c
provision about enabling entitlement to travel to be evidenced in particular ways,
d
provision about providing information about the arrangements to the public,
e
provision about publicising local services, fares or ticketing arrangements provided or made available by any operator of a local service of a class specified in the scheme, and
f
provision as to the appearance of tickets.
8
Different arrangements may be specified in an advanced ticketing scheme for different cases.
9
In carrying out their functions under this Part in relation to advanced ticketing schemes, local transport authorities whose areas are in England must co-operate with one another.
10
In carrying out their functions under this Part in relation to making or varying advanced ticketing schemes, local transport authorities must have regard to the desirability, in appropriate cases, of having a ticketing scheme that—
a
facilitates journeys between the area to which the ticketing scheme applies and adjoining areas of England, or
b
facilitates the adoption of similar ticketing arrangements in adjoining areas of England.
11
In considering whether to make or vary an advanced ticketing scheme under this section, a local transport authority must have regard to the desirability, in appropriate cases, of making a scheme jointly with another authority.

Notice and consultation requirements
134D
1
If a local transport authority for an area in England, or two or more such authorities, propose to make an advanced ticketing scheme under section 134C, they must give notice of the proposed scheme in such manner as they consider appropriate for bringing it to the attention of persons in the area to which it relates.
2
The notice must specify the date on which the scheme is proposed to come into operation.
3
After giving notice of the proposed scheme, the authority or authorities must consult—
a
all operators of local services who would, in the opinion of the authority or authorities, be affected by it,
b
such organisations appearing to the authority or authorities to be representative of users of local services as they think fit,
c
any other relevant local authority any part of whose area would, in the opinion of the authority or authorities, be affected by the proposed scheme,
d
the Passengers' Council,
e
the Competition and Markets Authority, and
f
a traffic commissioner.
4
For the purpose of subsection (3)(c) the following are relevant local authorities—
a
local transport authorities,
b
district councils in England,
c
National Park authorities,
d
the Broads Authority,
e
London transport authorities, and
f
councils in Scotland.

Making of scheme
134E
1
If, after consulting in accordance with section 134D, the authority or authorities decide that it is appropriate to make the scheme, they may make it as proposed or with modifications.
2
If the scheme applies to tickets within section 134C(4)(d), it may only be made with the agreement of the operators of the connecting rail or tram services concerned.
3
The scheme must specify the date on which it is to come into operation, which must not be earlier than three months after the date on which it is made.
4
Not later than 14 days after the date on which the scheme is made, the authority or authorities must give notice of the making of the scheme—
a
in such manner as they consider appropriate for bringing it to the attention of persons in the area to which it relates,
b
to a traffic commissioner,
c
to all operators of local services or services for the carriage of passengers by railway or by tramway (or by both) who would, in the opinion of the authority or authorities, be affected by it, and
d
to the Secretary of State if it applies to tickets within section 134C(4)(d).
5
The notice must set out the terms of the scheme and the date on which it is to come into operation.
6
The authority or authorities to whose area or combined area the scheme relates may vary or revoke the scheme.
7
If the proposed variation would result in the scheme relating to all or part of the area of another local transport authority, the reference in subsection (6) to the authority or authorities includes that other authority.
8
The variation or revocation is subject to the same procedure as the making of the scheme and in the application of that procedure—
a
a reference in sections 134C(1) to (9) and 134D and subsections (1) to (5) to making a scheme is to be treated as a reference to varying or revoking a scheme,
b
a reference in those provisions to the proposed scheme is to be treated as a reference to the scheme as proposed to be varied or to the proposed revocation of the scheme, and
c
a reference in those provisions to the date on which a scheme comes into operation is to be treated as a reference to the date on which the scheme as varied comes into operation or the date on which the scheme comes to an end.

Effect of scheme
134F
During any period in which an advanced ticketing scheme is in operation, operators of local services to which the scheme relates must make and implement the arrangements required by the scheme.

Guidance
134G
1
The Secretary of State may issue guidance concerning the exercise by local transport authorities of their functions under this Part in relation to advanced ticketing schemes.
2
The authorities must have regard to any such guidance in exercising those functions.
S. 7 in force at Royal Assent for certain purposes, otherwise in force at 27.6.2017, see s. 26(3)