Standards

The Bus services around the Christmas and New Year period will often operate differently to normal weeks. 

The data for use in services such as the Department for Transport Bus Open Data Service , Traveline, journey planners, real time systems and mobile phone apps all need to be updated to reflect the changed operation. 

This advice deals with how to prepare data for the BODS and other systems to ensure that it is correct for the Christmas and New Year 2025-26 holiday period. 

The initial versions have been tested on street and Version 2 developed to address implementation issues identified and reduce the amount of project specific details necessary:

Part 1 - Architecture (Published) v2.0

https://rtig.org.uk/documents/rtigt047-pt1-2 

Part 2 – Core Content Messages (Published) v2.0
https://rtig.org.uk/documents/rtigt047-pt2-2 

There is a requirement to indicate non-passenger stops (driver rests, driver change over, depots, and waiting time stops) so that these can be included in TransXChange (TXC) files in National Coach Service Database (NCSD), and Bus Open Data Service (BODS) without requiring a stop to be created in the NaPTAN database by an authority. These locations are not used by the public to access or exit public transport, they are required for operational management purposes by operators.  

Guide to what is included in the DfT NCSD
November 2024

Input data
We are currently taking data in various data formats, such as (TxC, ATCO-CIF, GTFS) from 6 operators.
The input data we receive is as below.
• Megabus
• National Express
• FLIXBUS – GTFS
• NewBharat Coaches
• Autosradale (Airport Bus Express)
• Scottish Citylink 

This list replicates what was included in the current NCSD.

The Bus services around the Christmas and New Year period will often operate differently to normal weeks. 

The data for use in services such as the Department for Transport Bus Open Data Service , Traveline, journey planners, real time systems and mobile phone apps all need to be updated to reflect the changed operation. 

This advice deals with how to prepare data for the BODS and other systems to ensure that it is correct for the Christmas and New Year 2024-25 holiday period. 

ARTSM Central System Interface replacement proposal

(CORBA Adapter)

UTMC has served the Traffic Industry well for some years.  However it became clear pre-covid, that the UTMC systems interfaces were insufficiently robust to cater for the needs of the future and we were all frustrated at the increasing issues around interoperability.

The use of NeTEx for fares & tickets is a relatively recent introduction to the industry. The UK NeTEx profile is highly flexible and allows for a multitude of potential ways to express the data. In order to simplify this and bring greater consistency to published fares data, BODS are implementing a BODS NeTEx profile for both simple and complex fares. 

The use of NeTEx for fares & tickets is a relatively recent introduction to the industry. The UK NeTEx profile is highly flexible and allows for a multitude of potential ways to express the data. In order to simplify this and bring greater consistency to published fares data, BODS are implementing a BODS NeTEx profile for both simple and complex fares. 

The Bus services around the Christmas and New Year period will often operate differently to normal weeks. 

The data for use in services such as the Department for Transport Bus Open Data Service , Traveline, journey planners, real time systems and mobile phone apps all need to be updated to reflect the changed operation. 

This advice deals with how to prepare data for the BODS and other systems to ensure that it is correct for the Christmas and New Year 2023-24 holiday period. 

Public transport, and buses in particular, are facing challenges at every turn: slow recovery from the covid collapse in passenger numbers, inflation increasing cost base, driver recruitment and retention, and of course traffic congestion.

How can we make the bus more attractive to encourage more people to use it?