The Scottish Bus Open Data Consultation
Feedback updated 29 Jan 2026
We asked
We undertook a public consultation between 31 March 2025 and 21 June 2025, and invited views from individuals and organisations on our proposals to set secondary legislation enabling a mandatory Bus Open Data regime for Scotland. Bus Open Data (or “BOD”) means information about buses and bus routes which is published, free of charge and electronically for the benefit of passengers and interested parties. Information such as the fare for a specific journey, real time information about where the bus currently is, the route, the timetable and onboard information (such as the availability of accessible spaces) are all examples of BOD. We have also asked for your views on the data format, schedule and types of information that will be required under a statutory scheme.
You said
We recieved over 70 responses from a both individuals and organisations. Forty-two respondents identified themselves as individuals and thirty-four responded on behalf of an organisation. Indivduals responding gave thier perspective as either passengers or potential passengers of public transport.
A wide range of organisations responded to this consultation. Fifty percent of organisations were bodies who predominately represent the views of passengers, with a further six percent representing passengers and operators together and three percent representing passengers, operators and technical interests. Sole operator interests accounted for fifteen percent of organisational responses while sole technical interests accounted for twenty-six percent.
Some of the responses referred to the existing scheme which operates in England, as the only part of the UK which currently has a mandatory (legal) requirement for BOD. This was normally to promote alignment in data standards, but with the caveat of improving the overall exchange process if possible.
In order to accommodate some late running responses, we continued to accept responses for a further two-week period after the official closing date.
We did
We will now progress with Regulations on the basis outlined in the associated analysis published on the Transport Scotland website. We will look at providing guidance in collaboration with the bus sector, and we will continue to welcome views on the topic from both individuals and organisations while this work is carried out. We believe that by making this kind of information ‘open’, people will be better informed to make decisions about using public transport, for example, by being able to compare fares between two different operators, or to know where the bus currently is on a route.
Results updated 29 Jan 2026
The link below presents the analysis of responses received to the “Scottish Bus Open Data Consultation”, which closed in Summer 2025. The consultation sought views on the scope, format, and implementation of proposed Regulations arising from the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019, aimed at improving access to bus service information through open data. Respondents included bus operators, local transport authorities, passenger representative groups, technology providers, and individual passengers. Their contributions have provided valuable insight into the practical and technical considerations that will inform the development of this proposed secondary legislation. This analysis summarises the key themes, areas of consensus, and issues raised, ensuring that the legislative framework reflects stakeholder perspectives and presents recommendations to support the delivery of accurate, accessible, and consistent bus information across Scotland.
Links:
Overview
In 2019 the Scottish Government brought in new primary legislation for transport (the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019), which included new provisions to better define bus open data, and to require it be shared for the new purpose of directly informing passengers (or potential passengers) about services. We believe that bus open data is essential to make travel on public transport more accessible, and to increase patronage of public transport in Scotland.
We intend to introduce new supporting legislation, known as Regulations (or ‘Secondary Legislation’) which define what specific information is required to be published, when, and in what format. This will allow for consistency across Scotland and will help us align with changes already underway in the wider UK.
This will directly affect bus operators in Scotland, as well as bus passengers and potential bus passengers, and may also be of interest to other groups whose members have an interest in bus operations in Scotland.
In order to progress this legislation, we are seeking views from all interested parties on the timescale for implementation, the detail of the prescribed information to be provided, any guidance or support needs the sector may have, the data format and schedule of the information and the types of services these requirements will apply to. We are keen to hear both technical views on the data format, and passenger (user) views on which information should be included.
You can access this consultation as a PDF document and find out how to respond via post at Scottish bus open data | Transport Scotland
Please note that the consultation information document was updated with minor corrections (formatting, clarity, one missing coma) on 07/04/2025. This makes no signifcant changes to the information provided, but does provide more clarity - for example, "Community Bus (Section 22)" now reads "Community Bus (Section 22 of the Transport Act 1985) in order to be explicitly clear which Act created this power.
Useful information about responding to this consultation
As you complete your response, each page will provide the option to 'Save and come back later' at the bottom. This means you can save your progress and return to the consultation at any time before it closes. If you don't use this feature and leave the consultation midway through, your response will be lost.
Once you have submitted your response, you can enter your email address to get a pdf copy of your answers sent to you.
On the 'About You' page at the end of this consultation, organisations will have the opportunity to tell us more about their work and/or how their response was informed.
After the consultation has closed there will be a few months delay before any responses are published. This is because we must check any responses to be published abide by our Terms of Use.
An analysis report will usually be published some months after the consultation has closed. This report will summarise the findings based on all responses submitted. It will be published on the Scottish Government website and you may be notified about it if you choose to share your email address with us. You can also join our consulation mailing list where we regularly list newly published analysis reports (as well as new consultations).
Why your views matter
Bus open data (or “BOD”) means information about buses and bus routes which is published, free of charge and electronically, by bus operators. Information such as the fare for a specific journey, real time information about where the bus currently is, the route, the timetable and on board information (such as the availability of accessible spaces) are all examples of BOD.
We believe that by making this kind of information ‘open’, people will be better able to make informed decisions about using public transport, for example, by being able to compare fares between two different operators, or to know exactly where on a route their bus currently is.
In order to ensure that these new requirements have the best possible impact on passengers, potential passengers and the sector overall, we are seeking your views to help shape the specific requirements and standards that will be required.
What happens next
Once your views have been collected and analysed, we will report on the outcome of the consultation on the Transport Scotland website. This will inform the detail of the BOD Regulations, which we aim to lay in Parliment during 2025/26
Interests
- Main hub
- Transport
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