Electronic Bus Service Registration and TransXChange Helen Pattington – Transport Direct

1. Electronic Bus Service Registration and TransXChangeHelen Pattington – Transport Direct

2. What are EBSR & TXC? • TransXChange (TXC) • Is a data transfer protocol that has been developed to allow for data on passenger transport services to be transferred in a standard and consistent format • Electronic Bus Service Registration (EBSR) • Is a business process that allows bus service registrations to be submitted to VOSA and local authorities in an electronic format. • To ensure that data is provided in a standard format, this process uses TXC to structure the data that is included in the registration

3. What is EBSR? • A process to move the bus service registration from paper..... • …To data (suitable for import into other systems) • Via the use of EBSR and the TransXChange/XML data transfer protocol • …And making sure that this data can be reproduced in a readable format • Using the TransXChange Publisher

4. Why Do We Need EBSR & TXC? • The origins of TXC & EBSR lie in a move to modernise systems that began in the late 1990’s affecting both VOSA and the increasing need to share data about public transport services • VOSA – programme to update their business systems & processes and make them suitable for 21st Century (TAN21 Programme) • Wider transport information community – development of Traveline and emergence of new systems such as RTI • Both of these initiatives challenged the traditional view of bus data and bus registrations

5. The Case For Electronic Data Transfer Reduce the need for separate systems and manual intervention Recognise that the bus schedule is material common to core business for: Bus operator Local transport authority Information provider Each party has been re-writing/copying bus schedules/routes/timetables Introducing error Diverting resources Slowing timely delivery Each party has something to gain from more efficient schedule description & data transfer

6. The Role of EBSR An electronic business system and process to register a bus service with the Traffic Commissioners and VOSA A formal transaction between parties:- Operators LTAs / PTEs VOSA A system that can carry the full information required downstream by:- LTAs Traveline Transport Direct Other information systems

7. Benefits Produce schedule once, then share, import & edit electronically Reduce re-keying of timetables and route details Re-use schedules for operations, publicity, traveline, real-time etc. Improve timeliness Reduce errors Reduce operational costs Improved visibility of route/timetable details for operator, local authority/PTE, VOSA etc.

8. Outline Process/Timelines Service Start Date Pre-56 days 56 days 28 days Share updates Pre-Registration discussions with LA Finalise operational details for info. systems Submit Registration to VOSA Clarify any queries on Registration Registration in operation LA consider impact on services VOSA acceptance. LA notified. Details available from VOSA Prepare information needed for e.g RTI systems (more detail than for registrations)

9. Timeline VOSA EBSR pilot capability enabled 1 Jun 2007 Registrations submitted from 14 Aug 2007 EBSR became VOSA operational service 20 Sep 2007 Technology launch at York INFORM 8 Nov 2007 VOSA moved pilot to ‘business as usual’ 14 Dec 2007 EBSR Launch by Secretary of State 31 Jan 2008

10. Progress EBSR is now a fully live service Operational service at VOSA since December 2007 Formal launch by Secretary of State January 2008 Only one outage since EBSR became operational That was the failure of an external web service used in the process 5 registration failures One of which has led to fix in EBSR Publisher Service characteristics of successful e-registrations include:- Linear routes Express journeys Forked routes Complex Services (Circulars, Cloverleaf, Lollipop routes etc.) Special day timetables Frequent Services/Long Routes (275 vehicle journeys & 75 stop points) Pick-up/set-down only H&R

11. Current Situation

12. Service Registrations & EBSR At end Apr 2009

13. EBSR Submissions At end Apr 2009

14. Local Authorities & EBSR In addition there are also organisations that manage data for Authorities and receive and/or process EBSR data into their systems. These include Kent CC, Redcar & Cleveland Traveline Cymru, and Transept At end Apr 2009

15. Implementing EBSR

16. What do Local Authorities Need for EBSR & TXC? VOSA set up a mailbox on their system where EBSRs for your area are lodged LAs/PTEs need to set up an EBSR email address and register this with VOSA VOSA will advise LAs/PTEs of new registrations received for your area EBSR files with TXC data made available to LAs/PTEs Decision - how will these be processed? Import to local systems? View using the TXC Publisher?

17. The Benefits of EBSR for Local Authorities Faster production of information for leaflets, roadside displays, etc Faster supply of data to traveline More efficient working with real-time systems Less effort creating interpolation of stop times Develop/ use tools to compare the proposed against the existing registration From second electronic version onwards

18. What do Operators Need for EBSR & TXC? Need to have the capability of producing EBSR or TXC data Scheduling system Use an agent Work with local authotities On-line system? Make VOSA and affected local authorities aware of your plans Develop a transition plan – moving from paper to electronic

19. The Benefits of EBSR for Operators Simpler process Create data once for a variety of uses No more photocopying/faxing/posting to LAs etc. Fewer queries about proposed registrations Clear version of what is registered (PDF from VOSA) No risk of missing out Authorities that should receive a copy of the registration More efficient supply of data to travel information systems Simpler working with real-time systems

20. Contacts Helen Pattington: Transport Direct Helen.pattington@dft.gsi.gov.uk Kieran Holmes: Transport Direct kieran.holmes@ttr-ltd.com General Enquiries to Transport Direct re EBSR ebsr@dft.gsi.gov.uk General Enquiries to VOSA re EBSR ebsr@vosa.gov.uk