Open consultation

Annex A – Questions

Published 17 September 2026

1. Full list of questions

Question 1

Is the 95% standard for timetabled services to run between one minute early and five minutes late still relevant today, and that it should apply to all timetabled services? If not, please state what the standard should be and how services could be differentiated?

Question 2

Where an operator’s performance is between 80-95% would it be appropriate for a clearer statement to be set out in the Statutory Document that a traffic commissioner would usually allow time for performance improvement plans to be put into place and performance to then be assessed over a period of time before considering formal regulatory intervention at a public inquiry? Please state any circumstances where you consider a public inquiry would be appropriate.

Question 3

Does the 15-minute performance period for frequent services remain appropriate? Please provide any views on any impact in extending it to 20 minutes.

Question 4

Do you agree that flexible services should be expected to arrive or depart no more than five minutes late from the time period specified in the booking on 95% of occasions? If not, please give reasons.   

Question 5

Do you agree that the mitigatory examples set out above are appropriate. Please explain reasons why you believe any should not be included.

Should additional mitigatory examples also be included? If so, please explain.

Question 6

If you believe that the performance standard should alter depending on the nature of service, please give examples of services and the reasons why the performance standard should differ.

Question 7

If the provision of real time passenger information should be a mitigating factor what should the operator be expected to provide in order to rely upon the mitigation?

Question 8

Please provide thoughts on what evidence should an operator provide of working in the community on reducing digital exclusion in order for a traffic commissioner to take it into account.

Question 9

What weight should a traffic commissioner give where an operator is meeting a standard set out in an Enhanced Partnership Scheme which is lower than the expectations described in the current Statutory Document?

Question 10

Should the guidance make a clearer statement that timetables must reflect the expected running time of the individual journey even if it creates a more complicated timetable for passengers? Please set out any benefits and drawbacks.

Question 11

Please provide suggestions on when it may be appropriate to allow an extended timing point beyond 15 minutes.

Question 12

Please provide your view on the benefits and impact of a traffic commissioner using their powers to request reports from a local authority when traffic management issues are cited as a reason for poor punctuality. Please provide any evidence on the estimated cost to providing reports.   

Question 13

Would a statement on what the Senior Traffic Commissioner considers to be good practice for local authorities be useful in managing network issues and roadworks? If yes, please provide examples of what you consider to be good practice.

Question 14

Should a traffic commissioner publish any report and send a copy to the Secretary of State?

Question 15

Should a traffic commissioner allow a report to be used as mitigation by an operator?

Question 16

Do you agree that operators who have failed to publish any datasets and to engage with the support available to them should expect a financial penalty at the higher end of the scale? If not, please give reasons?

Question 17

Do you agree with the points set out as potential mitigation, and can you provide any further items that could be used as mitigation?

Question 18

Do you consider that it would be appropriate for cases regarding the failure to provide information to BODS (or any future equivalent service) to be dealt with outside of a public inquiry where a traffic commissioner considers the facts are clear? If not, why not? Please set out any benefits you consider arise from doing so, or from holding public inquiries.

Question 19

Should notice of penalties issued under section 155 of the Transport Act 2000 be published in Notices and Proceedings even where a public inquiry is not held? Please explain your answer.

Question 20

Please provide any view on whether BODS data can be utilised and used as evidence of an operator’s performance against the reliability standards expected. The Senior Traffic Commissioner is particularly interested in views on whether it could be used as evidence with no corroborating monitoring exercise being conducted.

Question 21

Do you agree that the operation of a local bus service in contravention of the franchising scheme should result in a starting point for a financial penalty £550 for each vehicle authorised under the PSV operator’s licences held by the operator?

Question 22

Is it proportionate for this sanction to be reduced depending on the factors set out above?