The Derbyshire Bus Service Improvement Plan

A key element of the Governments National Bus Strategy is the requirement for each Local Transport Authority (LTA) such as Derbyshire County Council to produce a Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP). The BSIP sets out what measures the Council and its partners in the bus industry will introduce in their area to reverse the long term national decline in bus patronage over the last 20-30 years which has been compounded by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Derbyshire’s BSIP sets out an ambitious range of measures designed to make bus services in the county better including

• Measures to improve bus service reliability and journey times.
• Improvements to bus service information including an increase in the number of roadside electronic Real Time Information signs at bus stops.
• Measures to improve integration between different bus services and between bus and rail including the development of transport hubs at key locations to help bring services together.
  
• The introduction of new ticketing arrangements to make bus travel more affordable.
  
• Better roadside shelters and stops.
  
• Improvements in the frequency and hours of operation of key bus services.
  
• An expansion in the number of areas where Demand Responsive Transport services are available.
  
• The introduction of more environmentally friendly buses.

Our BSIP also includes a range of targets to monitor the impact of these measures including patronage growth and levels of passenger satisfaction as well as more specific targets linked to the number of new bus shelters and Real Time Information signs being installed each year.
A copy of our BSIP can now been seen here. Read about the progress we're making:

• BSIP Progress Report - April 2023
• BSIP Progress Report - November 2023

If you have any comments or questions about the BSIP please email public.transport@derbyshire.gov.uk or write to
The Public Transport Unit
Derbyshire County Council
County Hall
Matlock
DE4 3AG

Further details on the National Bus Strategy can also be found here.

Enhanced partnerships

Enhanced partnerships (EPs) are a new type of arrangement between LTAs and bus operators. The purpose of the EP is to create a formal, collaborative agreement between LTAs and bus operators to deliver bus improvements in an area. As part of an EP, the LTA and operators can set service standards, including the frequency of buses along specific routes, the type of vehicle to be used and the availability of ticket products and payment methods.

Enhanced partnerships also allow for integration between different types of public transport with more joint ticketing arrangements and better timetabling to allow interchange. An EP would therefore bring many of the benefits of a franchise in terms of providing a more joined up bus network but the operation of the commercial services would still remain with the bus companies.

The formal notice of this decision is given:
Derbyshire County Council hereby give Notice under Section 138G(5) of the Transport Act 2000 (as amended), that the Enhanced Partnership has been Made on 29th March 2022 and came into effect from 31 March 2022. The Enhanced Partnership has been prepared in accordance with Section 138F of the Transport Act 2000 and has been consulted on accordingly, it is Made without modifications, following public consultation. The Enhanced Plan and Scheme applies to all bus operators operating within Derbyshire Council Council’s administrative area, unless specifically exempt under the terms of the Enhanced Partnership Scheme.

You can view a copy of the current Enhanced Partnership Plan and Scheme here:
- The Enhanced Partnership Plan for bus operators can be seen here.
- The Enhanced Partnership Scheme for bus operators can be seen here.
- The Enhanced Partnership Scheme for bus operators (February 2024) can be seen here.

Bus Passenger Charter
In partnership with operators, the County Council is pleased to adopt a Bus Passenger Charter for bus services in Derbyshire.
This Bus Passenger Charter sets out what you can expect from your local bus services and who to contact if the service falls short of these standards.
You can view the Derbyshire Bus Passenger Charter here.