The Scottish Bus Open Data Consultation

Operator views on the routes, stopping places, and timetable data to be provided.

The Traveline National Data Set already publishes route and timetable data for bus services in Scotland. However, that dataset is based on the requirements of bus registration and is not always detailed enough for use in journey planners.

We propose that the new Regulations will require operators provide, in a digital format, their timetable(s) with information provided at bus stop level, and route data to be provided as a list of points that allow the route to be drawn with sufficient detail to follow the associated road geometry (as opposed to presuming a route between bus stops). This information needs to be provided initially and then must be kept up to date. By ‘kept up to date’ we mean that, as is the case in England, any change to timetables, routes, etc must be made not less than two weeks prior to a change taking place, but even if no changes take place, a submission will be required at least once every 12 months.   

We intend to ask for the following information:

• the trading name of the operator, their licence number and National Operator Code
• route information including the service number/name, route registration number, each bus stop called at in order
• timetable information including the arrival and departure time at each bus stop, the days it does and does not run