Running, managing and continuously improving England’s Bus Open Data Service will put passenger experience and transport planning in the fast lane.

The UK Government Department for Transport (DfT) has chosen Kainos as its partner to run, maintain and improve its Bus Open Data Service (BODS). The digital platform, built on AWS, enables the publication of England’s bus timetables, fares, tickets and real-time locations and is crucial for improving passenger satisfaction and transport planning. 

Public transport is a key UK Government priority and buses are vital to unlocking social mobility, economic opportunity and net-zero goals. 

The next stop in improving public transport

BODS has represented a significant shift in how bus data is organised, by introducing industry-wide data standards and tools for publishing consistent, accurate datasets. With the service in place, DfT is now looking to better meet the needs of bus operators and data users while optimising service costs.

Kainos will manage and continuously improve BODS to support in key areas, including:

• Making it easier for bus operators to provide and maintain data – particularly the hundreds of small companies outside of major cities that have varying digital capabilities.
• Supporting policy ambitions – enhanced analytical tools will help local authorities, transport operators and other government bodies use up-to-date data to plan and monitor services. Kainos will also help BODS provide more reliable, AI-ready data, both for short-term decision making and to support the Integrated National Transport Strategy. 
• Enhancing the passenger experience – with better, user-friendly access to real-time bus information, as demonstrated by Buster, the multilingual AI travel assistant prototype built using data from BODS and National Public Transport Access Nodes (NaPTAN).

Putting users in the driving seat

Kainos is known for our systems thinking and user-driven methodology, our approach includes partnering with Arup and convening a Bus Data Expert Panel bringing together key industry stakeholders. This will help us work proactively to address issues and capitalise on opportunities to support bus operators, data consumers and passengers.

Andy Kemp, Head of Public Sector at Kainos, said, ‘There are so many opportunities to enhance BODS – to improve the passenger experience, reduce cost and support operators and policymakers. We will ensure we’re optimising it for everyone who needs access to bus data – while ensuring DfT has a secure, resilient, cost-optimised system that’s fit for the future.’

Simon Royal, BODS Service Owner at DfT, said, ‘Data is the driving force of transport services. BODS is about creating a level playing field for operators and data consumers, making it easier for people to use buses across the country. Importantly, Kainos will help to improve the service, allowing bus operators in England to better provide required data to BODS more effectively. This will support crucial policy initiatives that are making public transport more accessible and easier to use.’

The DfT is responsible for the English transport network and certain non-devolved transport matters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It plans and invests in transport infrastructure to keep the UK moving, empower local leaders and raise standards across the country. Kainos is a long-time partner for the DfT family, supporting with a range of successful projects like the DfT Street Manager service for roadworks and transforming MOT and Driving Theory Test Services. Most recently, we won a four-year contract to modernise Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency driver services.  

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