Guidance

Annual bus statistics, survey questionnaire

Updated 26 November 2025

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

This return is for operators of local bus services, registered with the Traffic Commissioner. This includes all services for which Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) is claimed other than community transport services.

A return is required by law under the Statistics of Trade Act 1947.

Please refer to the guidance you should have also received if you have questions on this return. If you have any further questions, or do not operate registered local bus services, please contact the Bus Statistics team.

Personal data

The personal data you provide is purely for the purpose of DfT being able to contact you in regards to this survey and also to send you details of next year’s survey. This information is gathered in connection with our public task as a government department. Further details on DfT’s privacy policy can be found online. We will share your information with Kenda (our contractor who host the survey) so that your contact details can be included in the online survey form when you log in. Your personal data will be stored in an Excel database so we can send you next year’s survey. For any further correspondence about any of our surveys or publications, please contact the Bus Statistics team.

Section 0: Your details

Question number	Question description	Answer options
(a)	What is the name of your company?	Free text
(b)	According to our records, you will be reporting for the operator licences below for the year ending March 2025. Please add or delete as necessary.	Verify from list
(c)	Number of PSV licence discs held on the above licences at 31 March 2025	Number
(d)	At 31 March, does this licence belong to a company which is part of a larger transport group?	Yes, No
(d)	If yes, what is the parent group?	Free text
(e)	Local transport authority or PTE area in which you operated most of your local bus services at 31 March 2025?	Drop-down box
(f)	Which other local transport authorities or PTE areas did you operate local bus services / pick up passengers at 31 March 2025?	Verify from list
(g)	Were you part of at least one statutory partnership scheme at 31 March 2025?	Yes, No
(h)	Were you part of at least one voluntary partnership scheme at 31 March 2025?	Yes, No
(i)	Name of main contact for correspondence related to this survey	Free text
(j)	Email address for the above person	Free text
(k)	Telephone number for the above person	Free text

Section 1: Vehicles at 31 March 2025

Question 1

At 31 March 2025, how many of the following PSV vehicles did you operate?

Question number	Question description	Answer options
1(a)	Buses licensed for over 22 passengers (including standing)	Number
1(b)	Coaches of 17 or more seats (NO standing, usually fitted with seatbelts)	Number
1(c)	Minibuses 9 to 22 passengers (including standing)	Number
1(d)	Total number of PSVs (a+b+c)	Number

Question 2

Of the “Q1(a)” buses you operated at 31 March 2025, how many:

Question number	Question description	Answer options
2(a)	Had a PSVAR accessibility certificate issued under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 or Equality Act 2010, indicating compliance with the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000?	Number
2(a)(i)	Of the buses you operate without PSVAR certificates, how many are not used on local and or scheduled services	Number
2(b)	Did not have a certificate but were of a wheelchair accessible design?	Number
2(c)	Were fitted with an Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) device (such as GPS, beacon) that can be used to monitor punctuality?	Number
2(c)(i)	Of the buses fitted with an AVL device, how many: Use the AVL device to provide real time service information to customers? Examples of ways that real time service information can be provided to customers include on bus stop displays, mobile technology, on board the bus, mobile apps or the internet.	Number
2(c)(ii)	Is this information made available, in real time, free of charge (either by your organisation or through a third party, such as the LTA)?	Yes, No
2(c)(iii)	Of the buses fitted with an AVL device, how many: Use the AVL device to monitor punctuality?	Number
2(d)	Were equipped with live readers that accept ITSO-compliant smart cards (or mobile phones emulating these) only?	Number
2(e)	Were equipped with live card readers that accept contactless EMV payment cards (or mobile phones emulating these) only?	Number
2(f)	Were equipped with live readers that accept both ITSO smart cards and contactless EMV payment cards (or mobile phones emulating these)?	Number
2(g)	Who supplies your live reader technology (such as Ticketer, Vix, or Init)?	Free text
2(h)	Were equipped with CCTV recording?	Number

The next three questions ask about the number of buses equipped with facilities for providing audible and visible information to assist passengers. Please ensure you answer each part carefully.

Question number	Question description	Answer options
2(i)	Were equipped with facilities to provide audible and visible next stop information to passengers?	Number
2(ii)	Were equipped with facilities to provide audible and visible route/direction, next stop and diversion information to passengers?	Number
2(iii)	Provided audible and visible information to passengers consistent with the Public Service Vehicles (Accessible Information) Regulations 2023?	Number
2(j)	Were equipped with Wi-Fi technology enabling passengers to access free Wi-Fi?	Number
2(k)	Were fitted with facilities for passengers to charge mobile phones, laptops and tablets? Examples of these facilities include 13 amp sockets, USB charging points and wireless charging.	Number

In addition to the statutory wheelchair space:

Question number	Question description	Answer options
2(l)(i)	Had a second wheelchair space?	Number
2(l)(ii)	Had a separate space for buggies and pushchairs?	Number
2(l)(iii)	Had a separate space which can be used both by wheelchair users and passengers with pushchairs?	Number

Question 3

Of the buses you operated at 31 March 2025, how many were:

3(a). manufactured in:

Question number	Question description	Answer options
3(a)(i)	2025	Number
3(a)(ii)	2024	Number
3(a)(iii)	2023	Number
3(a)(iv)	2022	Number
3(a)(v)	2021	Number
3(a)(vi)	2020	Number
3(a)(vii)	2019	Number
3(a)(viii)	2018	Number
3(a)(ix)	2017	Number
3(a)(x)	2016	Number
3(a)(xi)	2015	Number
3(a)(xii)	2014	Number
3(a)(xiii)	2013	Number
3(a)(xiv)	2012	Number
3(a)(xv)	2011	Number
3(a)(xvi)	2010	Number
3(a)(xvii)	2009	Number
3(a)(xviii)	2008	Number
3(a)(xix)	2007	Number
3(a)(xx)	2006	Number
3(a)(xxi)	2005	Number
3(a)(xxii)	2004	Number
3(a)(xxiii)	2003	Number
3(a)(xxiv)	2002	Number
3(a)(xxv)	2001	Number
3(a)(xxvi)	Before 2000	Number
3(a)(xxvii)	Total number of buses (excluding minibuses and coaches)	Number

3(b). categorised as the following bus types:

Question number	Question description	Answer options
3(b)(i)	Euro III standards	Number
3(b)(ii)	Euro IV standards	Number
3(b)(iii)	Euro V standards	Number
3(b)(iv)	Euro VI standards - as manufactured	Number
3(b)(v)	Euro VI standards - CVRAS approved retrofit	Number
3(b)(vi)	Diesel-Hybrid - Euro VI standards	Number
3(b)(vii)	Diesel-Hybrid - other	Number
3(b)(viii)	Compressed natural gas (CNG) or Biomethane	Number
3(b)(ix)	Battery Electric	Number
3(b)(x)	Hydrogen Fuel Cell	Number
3(b)(xi)	Other	Number
3(b)(xii)	Total number of buses (excluding minibuses and coaches)	Number

3(c). operated using the following fuel types:

Question number	Question description	Answer options
3(c)(i)	Hydrogen	Number
3(c)(ii)	Electric (not hybrid)	Number
3(c)(iii)	Diesel-Hybrid	Number
3(c)(iv)	Methane or Biomethane	Number
3(c)(v)	Diesel	Number
3(c)(vi)	Other (including Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (HVO))	Number
3(c)(vii)	Total number of buses (excluding minibuses and coaches)	Number

Section 2: Employed PSV staff at 31 March 2025

Question 4

At 31 March 2025, how many Full Time Equivalent (FTE) staff did you employ to do PSV work as:

Question number	Question description	Answer options
4(a)	PSV Drivers or other on-vehicle PSV staff?	Number
4(a)(i)	PSV Drivers	Number
4(a)(ii)	On-Vehicle PSV staff (excluding drivers)	Number
4(b)	PSV Maintenance Staff?	Number
4(c)	PSV Cleaning Staff?	Number
4(d)	PSV Administrative/Other (to all management levels)?	Number
4(e)	Total PSV Staff employed? (a+b+c+d)	Number

Question 5

Since March 2018, Article 16 of Regulation (EU) 181/2011 (retained in UK law) has required drivers to complete disability awareness training (outlined in Part A of Annex II). This requirement did not extend to other staff providing direct assistance to the public. Part B of Annex II outlines requirements for disability assistance training.

At March 2025, did you require:

Question number	Question description	Answer options
5(a)	All drivers to complete training consistent with Part A?	Yes, No
5(b)	All other staff providing direct assistance to the public to complete training consistent with Part A?	Yes, No
5(c)	All drivers to complete training consistent with Part B?	Yes, No
5(d)	All other staff providing direct assistance to the public to complete training consistent with Part B?	Yes, No

Section 3: Passenger boardings on local bus services for the year ending March 2025

Please answer these questions in relation to your non-franchised, local bus services only.

Question 6

During the year ending March 2025, how many local passenger boardings did you carry?

Question number	Question description	Answer options
6(a)	Older/disabled concessionary passengers (where reimbursement received from a travel concession authority under the statutory scheme or a local enhancement)	Number
6(b)	Youth concessionary passengers on local services where full or partial reimbursement received from a travel concession authority (please do not include your own commercial concessions or school contract services)	Number
6(c)	Other passengers, including commercial concessions and season tickets but NOT including children under 5 or passengers on services not available to the general public (such as closed school and works only services)	Number
6(d)	Total passenger boardings (a+b+c)	Number
6(e)	Of the total in 6(d), please provide your best estimate of the number of passenger boardings on local transport authority subsidised/tendered services	Number

Question 7

The following question only applies if you operated services in more than one area

Please fill in the grid below for each local transport authority or PTE (as listed in questions e & f) you operated in for the year ending March 2025.

Name of LTA or PTE	Older or disabled concessionary passengers	Young concessionary passengers	Other passengers	Total passenger boardings
Example row	200	100	300	600

Section 4: ‘Live’ vehicle kilometres operated on local bus services for the year ending March 2025

‘Live’ kilometres means excluding any out of service ‘dead running’ between depot and start/end of routes or for driver training. Please answer these questions in relation to your non-franchised, local bus services only.

Question 8

During the year ending March 2025, how many vehicle kilometres (VKMs) did you operate on local bus services?

Question number	Question description	Answer options
8(a)	Live VKMs in Greater London?	Number
8(a)(i)	Dead running VKMs in Greater London?	Number
8(b)	Live commercial VKMs outside London?	Number
8(b)(i)	Dead running commercial VKMs outside London?	Number
8(c)	Live local transport authority subsidised/tendered VKMs outside London?	Number
8(d)	Total live VKMs (a+b+c)	Number

Question 9

The following question only applies if you operated services in more than one area.

Please fill in the grid below for each local transport authority or PTE (as listed in questions e & f) you operated in for the year ending March 2025.

Name of LTA or PTE	Greater London live VKMs	Commercial live VKMs	Local transport authority subsidised/tendered live VKMs	Total live VKMs
Example row	2,000	1,000	3,000	6,000

Section 5: Passenger receipts on local bus services for the year ending March 2025

Please provide data for the specified period, or your closest standard accounting period. An estimate is acceptable if no data are available. Please answer these questions in relation to your non-franchised, local bus services only.

Question number	Question description	Answer options
Financial period	We require data for the year 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025. However, if your standard accounting period differs from this and it is easier to provide figures on this basis please use the year which most closely relates to the year ending March 2025 and indicate here what this is	Free text

Question 10

The following questions relate to receipts from fare-paying passengers on local bus services only.

Question number	Question description	Answer options
10(a)	What were the total commercial receipts you received from journeys made by young people who are subject to concessionary fare reimbursement?	Number
10(b)	What was the total commercial receipts you received from other fare-paying passengers, including commercial concessions and season tickets?	Number
10(c)	What proportion of sales revenue is paid for with contactless EMV cards?	Number

Question 11

The following question only applies if you operated services in more than one area.

Please fill in the grid below for each local transport authority or PTE (as listed in questions e & f) you operated in for the year ending March 2025.

Name of LTA or PTE	Receipts from youth concessionary passengers	Receipts from other fare-paying passengers
Example row	200,000	100,000

Section 6: Operating costs for the year ending March 2025

Please provide data for the specified period, or your closest standard accounting period. An estimate is acceptable if no data are available. Please answer these questions in relation to your non-franchised services only.

Question 12

In the questions below an estimate is acceptable if no data are available.

Please can you state how much cost you had in the following categories in the year ending March 2025:

Question number	Question description	Answer options
12(a)	What were the total operating costs on local bus services? (Includes traffic operations, drivers wages, fuel costs before BSOG rebate, maintenance and running costs)	Number
12(a)(i)	Drivers wages	Number
12(a)(ii)	Fuel Costs (excluding BSOG)	Number
12(a)(iii)	Other fixed costs (including other labour and staff costs, insurance, maintenance, and all other operating costs, excluding depreciation)	Number
12(b)	What were the total operating costs on other (non-local) services?	Number
12(c)	What were the total administration costs?	Number
12(d)	What were the depreciation costs?	Number

Section 7: Further information

Question 13

Question number	Question description	Answer options
13(a)	Have there been any major changes that might have affected this year’s results, and/or caused difference from previous years?	Yes, No
13(b)	If yes, please give details. Please ensure that you provide all of the contributing factors and also sufficient detail on the nature of the impact these will have had on the results.	Free text
13(c)	Do you have any further comments?	Free text

Question 14

Do you operate any scheduled (timetabled) coach services, which do not need to be registered with the Traffic Commissioner:

Question number	Question description	Answer options
14(a)	As an operator in your own right?	Yes, No
14(b)	Under contract to another operator (for example, National Express)?	Yes, No
14(c)	If yes to either (a) or (b), please briefly describe the services run	Free text

Section 8: Feedback

Question 15

Question number	Question description	Answer options
15(a)	Do you have any feedback that you want to provide on this survey?	Yes, No
15(b)	If yes, please give details.	Free text

Summary

Question number	Question description	Answer options
Confirm	I confirm the accuracy and finality of the provided data	Yes, No

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Contact details

Bus statistics

Email bus.statistics@dft.gov.uk

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