Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to improve the integration and cooperation of bus and train services.

Decisions on how best to co-ordinate bus and rail services are best tackled locally. The needs of all public transport users must be taken into account when considering how to manage the different public transport networks. Changes at one station or location may benefit passengers there but may be a disadvantage to passengers further along the route.

The Department is currently in the process of building the Bus Open Data Digital Service which will serve as a platform for bus operators to provide their route, timetable, location, and fares data. This data can then be used by application developers to build products and services to help passengers plan their journeys, including onward journeys from railway stations.

The Williams Rail Review is looking at how strategic planning can be improved, including at the local level, so train services and stations can be integrated with local bus services and cycling routes.