Citation and interpretation

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Bus Services Act 2025 (Commencement No. 1 and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2026.

(2) In these Regulations—

“ the 2000 Act ” means the Transport Act 2000 ( 2 );

“ the 2025 Act ” means the Bus Services Act 2025 .

Provisions coming into force on 26th January 2026

2. The following provisions of the 2025 Act come into force on 26th January 2026—

(a)section 1 (availability of franchising schemes);

(b)section 2 (specification of areas);

(c)section 3 (specification of services);

(d)section 4 (minimum period before provision of services);

(e)section 5 (references to local services);

(f)section 6 (criteria for granting service permits);

(g)section 8 (substitute road services);

(h)section 10 (duty to consult persons with disabilities);

(i)section 11 (variation of schemes);

(j)section 12 (miscellaneous amendments);

(k)section 13 (direct award of contracts to incumbent operators);

(l)section 22 (local government bus companies);

(m)section 23 (grants);

(n)section 32 (duty to provide information to Secretary of State), so far as it relates to an authority that is subject to the duty to have regard to guidance under section 31(7) of the 2025 Act;

(o)the Schedule (procedure for varying franchising scheme), so far as it is not already in force(3).

Provisions coming into force on 1st April 2026

3. The following provisions of the 2025 Act come into force on 1st April 2026—

(a)section 14 (socially necessary local services);

(b)section 15 (measures specified in schemes);

(c)section 16 (passenger benefit requirement);

(d)section 17 (variation of schemes);

(e)in section 18 (requirements enabling travel by persons with disabilities)—

(i)subsections (1) to (3);

(ii)subsection (5);

(f)section 19 (objections by operators);

(g)section 20 (advance notice of requirement to provide information);

(h)section 21 (bus network accessibility plans).

Provision coming into force on 1st July 2026

4. Section 18(4) of the 2025 Act comes into force on 1st July 2026.

Transitional provision

5.—(1) Paragraph (2) applies to variations of franchising schemes(4) that involve adding an area to the area specified in the scheme under section 123H(2)(a) of the 2000 Act during the period—

(a)beginning with 26th January 2026, and

(b)ending with the day that the first regulations to be made by the Secretary of State under paragraph 4(7) of Schedule 9A to the 2000 Act come into force.

(2) Where this paragraph applies, a franchising authority or authorities(5)—

(a)must not follow the requirements for varying a franchising scheme in the 2000 Act as amended by section 11 of, and the Schedule to, the 2025 Act, but

(b)must follow the requirements for varying a franchising scheme in the 2000 Act as if section 11 of, and the Schedule to, the 2025 Act had not been brought into force.

(3) If, in accordance with paragraph (2)(b), a franchising authority or authorities have published a notice under sections 123C and 123M(8) and (9) of the 2000 Act stating that they intend to prepare an assessment of a proposed variation, the requirements for varying a franchising scheme in the 2000 Act continue to apply in relation to that variation until it has effect as if section 11 of, and the Schedule to, the 2025 Act had not been brought into force.