Where have bus services been a success (either in the UK or internationally) and why were they successful? How is it related to history, socio-economic and demographic factors, alternative travel modes and financial and other incentives?

Background

The improve transport for the user strategic priority is critical in ensuring the department delivers and maintains a transport system that meets the needs of the public and addresses what they care about most. It puts the needs and expectations of current and potential users (both passengers and freight customers) at the heart of the operation of the transport system and considers about end-to-end journeys, not just individual transport modes. It is focused on ensuring that our infrastructure and the services which use it meet the varied needs of businesses and the public, are attractive, affordable, sustainable, and resilient is a crucial goal for the department.

Next steps

Get in touch with bridgetoresearch@dft.gov.uk

Source

This question was published as part of the set of ARIs in this document:

DFT-Areas of research interest 2023 GOV UK

Related UKRI funded projects

  • University of Surrey and Surrey County Council

    To increase patronage of bus services in the country of Surrey, by establishing new ways of identifying customer needs, behaviours and user-experience; making bus services more appealing to potential customers....

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: THE UNIVERSITY OF SURREY

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project partially answers the question by identifying customer needs and behaviors, but does not address the other factors mentioned in the question.

  • Demand-based Urban Bus Integrated with Rail And Health (DUBIRAH)

    A citizen rarely finds bus, rail and/or health service provisions seamlessly aligned: scheduled bus services do not provide sufficiently direct door-to-door journeys, e.g. between railway stations and final destinations,...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: ESOTERIX SYSTEMS LIMITED

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project fully answers the question by assessing the viability of developing an integrated bus service and addressing the mentioned factors.

  • Automated Bus Routing (ABR)

    The need for a transport system which uses on-demand routing arises principally from the shortcomings of the current options available for local journeys. The average Briton makes 821 trips of below 10 miles annually (Na...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: ESOTERIX SYSTEMS LIMITED

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project partially answers the question by proposing an automated bus routing system, but does not address the other factors mentioned in the question.

  • A Big Data Digital Twin of Mass Transit in Liverpool City Region for Smart, Equitable Mobility

    Liverpool City Region Combined Authority's (LCRCA) bus network is at a crucial stage in its evolution. As the Combined Authority prepares for a full network review and a pioneering franchising model, the "Big Data D...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: PODARIS LTD

  • Public Transport Integrated On-Line Booking & Scheduling

    Transport on Demand re-invents the way of delivering public service transport for rural and suburban areas. Based on small buses following a route that is generated solely from the passenger’s calls this IT system will c...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: CABTRANSIT

  • The Role of Demand Responsive Transport in Connecting People to Opportunities in Less Densely Populated Areas

    The Government's National Bus Strategy 'Bus Back Better' seeks to arrest the decline in bus provision and use. It sees an important role for Demand Responsive Transport (or DRT) in lower-density areas not served well by ...

    Funded by: UKRI

    Lead research organisation: University of the West of England

  • Project Jaringan Hubungan Antara Pengagkutan

    The aim of this project is to understand and plan the deployment of innovative shared mobility technology to improve first-and-last-mile intermodal connectivity of public transit in Malaysia. The partners, CatchThatBus a...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: MOSES MOBILITY LTD

  • DRT for DRT: Developing Relevant Tools for Demand Responsive Transport

    The rise in private car use in the UK has major implications relating to how transport more generally is provided. One problem is that conventional public transport (i.e. bus, light rail and heavy rail) is steadily becom...

    Funded by: EPSRC

    Lead research organisation: Loughborough University

  • Real-time data-driven insights to drive sustainable travel & bus network resilience post-Covid-19

    Buses running to schedule is a perennial problem faced by transport authorities. Major cities including Cambridge have struggled to gain insights into the root cause of bus delays, in order to better manage and operate w...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: ALCHERA DATA TECHNOLOGIES LTD

  • TransitExplorer: a bus network analysis tool

    Improving public transport networks in developing countries relies upon a detailed understanding of what already exists. This can be captured in timetable data formats, the most common being the General Transit Feed Spec...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: INTEGRATED TRANSPORT PLANNING LIMITED