All local bus services are bound by certain regulations. For example, the operator must hold the relevant licences and register the service with the traffic commissioner 56 days prior to the start of the service.

There are subtle differences between services operated entirely commercially and those subsidised by a local authority.

Commercially operated services may operate on any route, to any timetable, and the operator may charge any fare. They must not receive any local authority funding.

Subsidised services may only operate where there is a passenger need for a bus service that is not met by the commercial market. If this is demonstrable, and if the local authority has sufficient funds, it may enter into a contract with a commercial operator to provide a service.

The local authority uses a process called competitive tendering to decide upon the operator.

Operators of local bus services (LBS) may be entitled to BSOG (bus service operator grant) payments. Further information is available on the Gov.uk website.

Our European framework (EF) is a European Union (EU) requirement relating to the tender process used to procure transport.

Bus, coach and taxi operators throughout the EU are invited to tender to become part of the EF, which enables them to then tender for transport contracts. Generally, we only use operators who have been accepted onto the EF to provide transport. The EF enables us to streamline the tendering process and provide a level of quality assurance, and runs for four years.

The new EF runs from 1 November 2014 for a maximum of four years until 31 October 2018.

Tendering process

Attached to this page are the results of the local bus tendering process.

It's a requirement for Transport Operators to appropriately register and obtain our authorisation for any Driver or Passenger Assistant they wish to use on our transport services. Registration forms are available from the Passenger Transport Commissioning Group (contact details on this page).

The ‘code of conduct for operators’ applies to operators, drivers and passenger assistants who provide transport on our behalf. All drivers and passenger assistants must be fully aware of this code, as well as all relevant legal requirements. They must also be aware of how to use the equipment in their vehicle in the event of an emergency.

Operators should give the safety of passengers and other road users the highest priority at all times.

For more information, please get in touch:

• Phone: 01743 253044
• Email: ptscontracts@shropshire.gov.uk