The Scottish Bus Open Data Consultation

Closes 21 Jun 2025

S3D The prescribed information - technical questions on real time information

Real time information has the power to significantly improve the journey experience of passengers with additional access needs, and will give passengers a greater level of assurance about the availability of services than assumed location information.

Real time information falls into two broad categories:

Location Information

  • live bus stop arrival and departure times
  • live timetables
  • live disruption updates

Facilities and Accessibility Information

  • on-board capacity
  • on-board wheelchair space utilisation
  • on-board facilities (wi-fi, power/charging, toilets, audio/visual capacity, payment methods)
  • emissions standard of the bus

Unlike static data, real time information will also need to be updated much faster, on a continuous automated ‘feed’ basis, and we have assumed that this timescale should be measured in seconds or minutes, rather than months, weeks or years. We are aware that many operators are already fully equipped to provide location information, and do so predominately using the ‘SIRI’ standard. We propose that the list of ‘Location Information’ above be provided as real time information in the new Regulations.

The facilities and accessibility information being sought is not something that is currently commonly captured on a real time (in use) basis. We appreciate that it may require time and investment in new systems to be able to provide this.

As a result, we are minded to phase in the requirement to provide this real time information over time. This will start with a requirement to provide information about on board facilities and accessibility information generally, moving towards to full real time (in use) information, initially through guidance and eventually as a requirement of the Regulations

Related information

Stage One (Static) to be provided under 2025 BOD Regulations

  • what is the maximum capacity of the vehicle
  • how many accessible spaces does the vehicle have
  • does the vehicle have wi-fi available
  • does the vehicle have power/charging facilities
  • does the vehicle have audio/visual facilities for announcing location and next stop
  • what payment methods are available on the vehicle
  • what is the emission standard of the vehicle

Stage Two (Real Time) initially to be provided through Guidance

  • what is the maximum capacity of the vehicle, how close to capacity is the vehicle (could be expressed as a percentage, a low/medium/high rating, etc)
  • how many accessible spaces does the vehicle have, and how many are currently in use
  • does the vehicle have wi-fi available, and is it currently operational (working)
  • does the vehicle have power/charging facilities and is it currently operational (working)
  • does the vehicle have audio/visual facilities for announcing location and next stop and is it currently operational (working)
  • what payment methods are available on the vehicle
  • what is the emission standard of the vehicle, what is the carbon saving compared to driving between two stops
15. Do you agree with our list of requirements for real time location information, and real time facilities and accessibility information?
16. What barriers if any do you foresee in organisations being able to provide the information listed?
17. Do you agree with our two stage approach with supporting guidance, or would you prefer to see all the requirements of stage two prescribed in statute openly from commencement?
18. We propose that real time information needs to be as close to ‘real time’ as possible. We would therefore like to hear your views on an acceptable feed time for location services

*For example, if the average travel time between two stops is 3 minutes, an update would be required within three minutes.

**For example, within one minute in a city region, but within 5 minutes in a rural area.

*** For example, guidance could set a process to agree and identify geographic areas with low connectivity where the timescale could be longer, or could simply list agreed areas which would be automatically exempt.