Open Data

Guide to what is included in the DfT NCSD
November 2024

Input data
We are currently taking data in various data formats, such as (TxC, ATCO-CIF, GTFS) from 6 operators.
The input data we receive is as below.
• Megabus
• National Express
• FLIXBUS – GTFS
• NewBharat Coaches
• Autosradale (Airport Bus Express)
• Scottish Citylink 

This list replicates what was included in the current NCSD.

A new (unofficial) online forum for users of the Bus Open Data Service (BODS) has been launched.
Open data consumers, bus operators, local authorities, customers, suppliers, and any other stakeholder than has an interest in or experience of the BODS service are invited to share their views, questions and experiences via the new open forum which you can find here https://boduf.discourse.group/ .
Please share this link as widely as possible.

Background
 

The use of NeTEx for fares & tickets is a relatively recent introduction to the industry. The UK NeTEx profile is highly flexible and allows for a multitude of potential ways to express the data. In order to simplify this and bring greater consistency to published fares data, BODS are implementing a BODS NeTEx profile for both simple and complex fares. 

The current data profile for supplying data to BODS supports standard bus services. There are an increasing number of flexible bus services operating and providing sometimes the only public transport provision in an area.

The Government this morning published its Transport Data Strategy, setting out plans to improve how people find, use and get value from transport data to support greater innovation in the sector and deliver better services.

The press release: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/passengers-set-to-benefit-from-new-digital-transport-strategy

Today we have published advice on how to prepare data for the BODS and other service to ensure that it is correct for the Coronation of The King and The Queen Consort bank holiday on 8 May 2023.

The Bus services around bank holidays will often operate differently to normal weeks.  The data for use in services such as the Department for Transport Bus Open Data Service (BODS), Traveline, journey planners, real time systems and mobile phone apps all need to be updated to reflect the changed operation. 

This report specifically addresses one key customer challenge - the presentation of information about a journey for which a bus then does not appear at the customer location, often referred to as ghost buses.
It is an extract from the document RTIGT041 Accuracy and Quality of real Time Predictions and provides guidance on the causes of Ghost Buses.

https://www.rtig.org.uk/documents/rtigt054-1

The Bus services around the Christmas and New Year period will often operate differently to normal weeks. 

The data for use in services such as the Department for Transport Bus Open Data Service , Traveline, journey planners, real time systems and mobile phone apps all need to be updated to reflect the changed operation. 

This advice deals with how to prepare data for the BODS and other systems to ensure that it is correct for the Christmas and New Year 2022-23 holiday period. 

In August 2022 we will be holding workshops that will explore some items currently on the development road map and seek to identify what new features and functions local authorities would like to see in ABODS.

There will one focused on Authority requirements on 22nd August 14:00 - 16:00

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/analyse-bus-open-data-local-authority-workshop-tickets-372833002547

Today we have published advice on how to prepare data for the BODS and other service to ensure that it is correct for the Platinum Jubilee long weekend 2nd to 5th June 2022.

The Bus services around bank holidays will often operate differently to normal weeks.  The data for use in services such as the Department for Transport Bus Open Data Service (BODS), Traveline, journey planners, real time systems and mobile phone apps all need to be updated to reflect the changed operation.