electronic bus service registration - its-uk

Electronic Bus Service Registration

Passenger Information Interest Group - ITS UK6 December 2007

Roger Slevin, Standards ManagerTransport Direct Team, Department for Transport

Based on presentations originally given at the launch of EBSRat the INFORM conference on 8 November 2007

The bus schedule …different interpretations

Bus operator’s registrationTiming pointsSufficient data to show route taken unambiguously

Local authority (or traveline) schedule database

All stops servedInterpolated timesSketchy beyond area boundary

Real-time systemPrecise timesSeasonal/ date variationsVehicle allocation






Coarse: sufficient detail to meet regulations

Medium: sufficient detail for journey planning

Fine: detail necessary to drive real-time stop signs






Coarse: sufficient detail to meet regulations

Medium: sufficient detail for journey planning

Fine: detail necessary to drive real-time stop signs

Typically, separate systems; manual intervention in each

Typical tasks … Bus Operator : internal

Schedule creation Driver/ vehicle allocationFare setting/ management PublicityEngineering managementBus service operators grant claim

Operator

Typical tasks … Bus Operator for others

Service registrationLocal authority contractsService performance managementSupply real-time system

Operator

VOSA

Real-timeinformationProviders

LTAs&

PTEs

Typical tasks …Local Transport Authority (1)

Determine local transport policyStudy bus service registrationsReview commercial bus networkIdentify & procure socially necessary bus servicesMeasure accessibility to transport

Operator

LTAs&

PTEs

Typical tasks …Local Transport Authority (2)

Monitor bus operationManage local stop records (NaPTAN)PublicityMaintain local bus service databaseMaintain real-time system

Operator


Travel & transport

informationcommunity

LTAs&

PTEs

Typical tasks …information provider

Import local bus service databasesMaintain regional public transport databaseReview bus service registrationsReview regional stop records (NaPTAN)Supply bus schedules to real-time system

Operator


LTAs&

PTEs

Travel & transport


Bus stop locations already digitised

Aspirations for electronic data transfer

Many organisations can benefit from process improvement around overall business efficiency

Create electronically at sourceTransfer data electronicallyDefined responsibilitiesRemove re-work

Developing electronic data transfer

Focus has been on data creation/ outputNeed to enhance data input to systems

In local transport authoritiesIn information providers

Ensures the electronic transfer of bus service data between interested parties

OutputsInputsUsage

Benefits from electronic data transfer

Produce schedule once, then edit electronicallyReduce re-keying of schedulesRe-use schedules for operations, publicity, traveline, etc.Improve registration visibility by operator, local transport authority or PTE, VOSAImprove timelinessReduce errorsReduce operational costsDevelop new outputs enabled by electronic data

What is EBSR?

An electronic business system and process to register a bus service with the Traffic Commissioners and VOSAA formal transaction between parties

OperatorsLTAs and PTEsVOSA

A system that carries the full information required downstream by

LTAs and PTEsTravelineTransport DirectOther information systems

EBSR Pilot Objectives

End-to-End registration process provenOperatorsVOSALTAs and PTEs

System functionality and resilienceDifferent types of bus service / registrationSmall to large registration file sizesSingle or multiple registration submissionAppropriate support processSLAs in place with suppliers

Satisfaction of all parties with systems and processes

EBSR Pilot Process

Selected locations from two operatorsArriva West ScotlandStagecoach CambridgeStagecoach Oxford

Existing registrationsTo verify that operator and VOSA details are consistent

New registrations and variations

Involving all stakeholders – operators, authorities, system suppliers, and data users

The EBSR Process

Operator creates XML file and uploads to VOSA in a zip file.The file is checked automatically; if valid it confirms receipt to operator and availability for download to Local Authorities.VOSA processes and accepts registrationVOSA advises operator and LTAs of acceptance.PDF of registered particulars ready for download.LTAs and operators can download TXC and PDF files when they want them.

LTA/PTE handling registrations (1)

Work out the differences from previous versionDecide whether any action neededReport to membersEncode and enter data into local or regional databaseCreate / check local interpolated timesRe-type data to get it on to LA web siteProduce stop / service publicityMonitor punctualityFile them

LTA/PTE handling registrations (2)

Policy teamDevelop / adjust local policies

Transport plannersAccessibility planning (“Accession” and NPTDR updates)

Contract teamsCreation of tender and contract documents which reference a pre-created TXC file

LTA/PTE and electronic registrations

Faster production of information for leaflets, roadside displays, etc Faster supply of data to travelineMore efficient working with real-time systemsLess effort creating interpolation of stop timesDevelop/ use tools to compare the proposed against the existing registration

From second electronic version onwards

Electronic registration information use

Better links with accessibility planningQuicker updating of “Accession” data

Smaller operatorsWorking through LTA or others as a registration agentLinks to potential for TXC being used within LA contract procedures

TfL interest in registrationsLondon Service PermitsTfL want to see the registrations and they use the data in the London Travel Information ServiceLondon’s bus operators have to submit registrations for out-of-London sections of route

Benefits for Local Transport Authorities

Electronic registration will have both direct and indirect benefitsMuch less coding and keying by LTA staffFaster input to databasesBetter turnaround into publicity material and information displaysOpportunities for better processes and outputs

Operator challenges

Moving from paper based to electronic

Cultural change

Addressing uncertainty for the customer

Trash in Trash out

Raising operator’s game

Where does NaPTAN fit it?

Good quality NaPTAN is essential for EBSRTXC v2.1 contains annotated references from NaPTAN

AtcoCodeCommonNameIndicatorLocalityName

All other stop-related data comes directly from NaPTAN

Vision

To move bus service data seamlessly, coherently and electronically between authorised and interested stakeholders

OperatorsLargeSmaller

PTEs and LTAsReal-time information service providersVOSATravel and transport information community

Transport DirectTraveline regionsPrivate- and public-sector providers

Vision

There are many two-way interactions

Operator to VOSAOperator to real-time information providerOperator to LTA / PTELTA / PTE to travel & transport information community

Standards are the glue for stakeholder interactions

TransXChange 2.1NaPTAN 2.1

StandardsTXC

NaPTAN

OperatorsSmaller

Travel & transport


VOSA


OperatorsLarge

LTAs&

PTEs

Building blocks

TransXChange 2.1TransXChange Publisher

Timetable PDF outputMap PDF Output

NaPTAN 2.1Daily downloadOnline web service

Operator Licensing Business System (OLBS)Electronic Bus Service Registration System (EBSR)

Registration upload through OLBSRegistration upload through secure file transfer (SFTP)Registration download through SFTPStakeholder electronic mailboxes

Concepts proven

TransXChange output fromLicensed bus scheduling softwareDemonstration “Online Editing” software

TransXChange input intoBus database systemsBus scheduling systemsJourney planning systems

MappingFor creating servicesFor viewing servicesUsing commodity third-party web services (Multimap)

Benefits

Efficient and effective management and handling of bus service data

Ownership and accountability

Business processes streamlined with electronic schedules

Remove the mundane processesFocus on the key stakeholder outcomes

Value added to data, services and processes where appropriate

Time available to add valueValue determined by the recipient

Delivering the vision

Understand the “wins” for smaller operatorsWhat is in it for them?

Understand the “wins” for LTAs and PTEsUnderstand their community objectives

Let the private sector do what it does bestPublic sector intervenes only when needed

Foster a variety of business and service modelsTo meet differing customer requirements and valuesTo accommodate agency services

Leverage existing investmentsAllow the open use of the “Online Editing” software

Think and act in partnership

Private sector role

TransXChange 2.1-compliant licensed softwareUtilising NaPTAN 2.1 data where appropriate

DownloadWeb service

Effective commercial models for usageStandard licensed softwareAgent licensed softwareAs an “on-demand” application service

Subscription-basedOr “pay as you use”

Take on the challengeAnd the opportunity to innovateInvest to succeed

Thank you

Questions and discussion

For further information please contact:

[email protected]@dft.gsi.gov.uk

electronic bus service registration - its-uk

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