UK Act of Parliament 1985 United Kingdom

Transport Act 1985

An Act to amend the law relating to road passenger transport; to make provision for the transfer of the operations of the National Bus Company to the private sector; to provide for the reorganisation of passenger transport in the public sector; to provide for local and central government financial support …

Enforced by
Traffic Commissioners
Status
Amended (in force with amendments)
Penalty ceiling
Imprisonment 4 of 42 obligations carry a fine up to £1,000. 2 carry different penalties and 36 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.

Does it bind you?

Business-side roles with duties under this instrument.

Any Person6 Operator4 Director or Officer2 Licence Holder1 Employee1 Applicant1

Plus 27 duties on the regulator, Crown ministers and public bodies — folded into the section list below.

Other Acts binding the same actors

If a role above is yours, these are the other instruments that most often bind it.

Any Person — also bound by 2340 other Acts
Operator — also bound by 746 other Acts
Director or Officer — also bound by 429 other Acts
Licence Holder — also bound by 225 other Acts
Employee — also bound by 189 other Acts
Applicant — also bound by 307 other Acts

What it requires

Sections creating concrete business duties or carrying penalties, grouped as the instrument is structured. Titles link to the source text — blue means you’re leaving for legislation.gov.uk.

Part 1

General Provisions Relating to Road Passenger Transport

13 of 54 sections shown
s.006 Applications for registration where quality contracts scheme in force Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Traffic Commissioner must check quality contract impact before registrationStatutory regulator
s.006 Applications for registration where an enhanced partnership scheme is in operation Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Traffic Commissioner must refuse bus service registrations that fail partnership rulesStatutory regulator
s.006 Traffic commissioner functions where an enhanced partnership scheme in operation Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Local Transport Authority must notify Traffic Commissioner of partnership plansLocal authority
s.006 Records of registration etc Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Local transport authorities must maintain public registers of bus servicesLocal authority
s.006 Application for registration where service standard has effect Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Traffic Commissioners must refuse bus registrations that fail service standardsStatutory regulator
s.006 Scrutiny of operation of bus services improvement partnership Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Traffic Commissioner must investigate and report on failing bus partnershipsStatutory regulator
s.006 Provision of service information when varying or cancelling registration Regulated
  • Provide passenger and revenue data when changing or cancelling a bus serviceOperator
s.006 Provision of service information: extent of permissible disclosure Prosecution
  • Unlawful disclosure of bus service informationEmployee

Unlimited fine

s.008 Enforcement of traffic regulation conditions, etc. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Traffic Commissioners must attach traffic conditions to operator licencesStatutory regulator
s.023 Further provision with respect to community bus permits. (opens in a new tab) Prosecution
  • Breach of community bus permit conditionsAny Person

Fine up to £1,000

s.029 Duty to give Secretary of State information about certain matters. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Secretary of State must receive notifications of PSV damage or alterationsCrown / Minister / Government department
s.030 Plying for hire by large public service vehicles. (opens in a new tab) Prosecution
  • Illegal plying for hire by large passenger vehiclesAny Person

Fine up to £1,000

s.031 Appeals under the 1981 Act. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
  • Appeal licensing decisions to the Transport TribunalLicence Holder
41 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
s.006 Applications for registration etc where restrictions are in force
s.006 Variation or cancellation of registration: service information
s.006 Cancellation and control of registration where enhanced partnership scheme is in operation
s.006 Enhanced partnership schemes: appeals
s.006 Fees relating to relevant registration functions
s.006 Contracting out of registration functions: fees
s.006 Cancellation of registration when operational service standards not met
s.006 Power to make regulations for appeals against service standards decisions
s.006 Provision of service information: further provision and consultation
s.013 Application of sections 10 to 13 to London
s.023 Power to limit permits under section 19 or 22 to 5 years
s.027 Additional powers where service not operated as registered
s.027 Provisions supplementing section 27A
Part 2

Regulation of Road Passenger Transport in London

3 of 13 sections shown
Part 3

The National Bus Company

0 of 10 sections shown
Part 4

Local Passenger Transport Services

8 of 31 sections shown
s.063 Functions of local councils with respect to passenger transport in areas other than integrated transport areas and passenger transport areas. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Councils must secure essential public transport services and support accessibilityLocal authority
s.064 Consultation and publicity with respect to policies as to services. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Councils must consult and publish transport service policiesLocal authority
s.069 Orders for transfer of joint undertakings to companies formed under section 67. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Councils must submit proposals to transfer joint bus undertakings to companiesLocal authority
s.073 Control over constitution and activities of public transport companies. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Control the makeup and financial activities of public transport companiesLocal authority
s.074 Disabilities of directors of public transport companies. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
  • Ensure company directors do not hold conflicting local council positionsDirector or Officer
s.076 Audit of accounts of public transport companies. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Local authorities must ensure public transport companies appoint approved auditorsLocal authority
s.077 Local authority financial controls in Scotland. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Local authorities in Scotland must ensure transport companies use approved auditorsLocal authority
s.080 Duty of Integrated Transport Authority or Passenger Transport Authority not to inhibit competition. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Transport Authorities must not restrict competition in transport servicesLocal authority
23 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
Part 5

PASSENGERS’ COUNCIL: ROAD PASSENGER TRANSPORT FUNCTIONS IN ENGLAND

12 of 12 sections shown
s.112 Introductory

amended 6 times

s.112 Duty to keep road passenger transport services and facilities under review Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Passengers’ Council must review road passenger transport servicesStatutory regulator

amended 6 times

s.112 Duty to investigate road passenger transport services and facilities Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Passengers’ Council must investigate bus and coach service complaintsStatutory regulator

amended 6 times

s.112 Power to refer matters elsewhere instead of investigating

amended 6 times

s.112 Investigations: power to obtain information Regulated
  • Provide information to the Passengers’ Council during investigationsOperator

amended 6 times

s.112 Investigations: protection of confidential information Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Passengers’ Council must keep sensitive business information confidentialStatutory regulator

amended 6 times

s.112 Investigations: representations Regulated
  • Respond to Passengers’ Council representations regarding transport servicesOperator

amended 6 times

s.112 Referrals following investigation

amended 6 times

s.112 Referrals in cases where investigation identifies other failings

amended 6 times

s.112 Traffic commissioner’s duty following referral Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Traffic Commissioner must review matters referred by the Passengers’ CouncilStatutory regulator

amended 6 times

s.112 Investigation reports

amended 6 times

s.112 Interpretation of Part 5A

amended 6 times

Part 5

Financial Provisions

16 of 26 sections shown
s.088 Expenditure on public passenger transport services. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Local authorities must cooperate to achieve best value in transport spendingLocal authority
s.089 Obligation to invite tenders for subsidised services. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Local authorities must invite tenders for subsidised bus servicesLocal authority
s.090 Provisions supplementary to section 89. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Local authorities must limit bus service contracts to 8 years and publish tender detailsLocal authority
s.095 Publicity requirements for schemes and reimbursement arrangements. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Local authorities must publish and make travel concession schemes availableLocal authority
s.101 Enforcement of participation in travel concession schemes. (opens in a new tab) Prosecution
  • Fail to provide required travel concessionsDirector or Officer

Fine up to £1,000

s.105 Travel concessions on services provided by local authorities. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Local authorities may provide travel concessions on their bus servicesLocal authority

amended 6 times (opens in a new tab)

s.106 Grants for bus services.

amended 8 times

10 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
Part 6

Miscellaneous and General

16 of 31 sections shown
s.122 Revocation or variation of bus service conditions. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Secretary of State must follow specific procedures to change bus conditionsCrown / Minister / Government department
s.125 The Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee and Secretary of State’s Guidance. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Secretary of State must issue guidance on disabled access to road transportCrown / Minister / Government department
s.127 Offences and legal proceedings. (opens in a new tab) Imprisonment
  • Forgery, misuse, or false statements regarding transport permitsAny Person
s.131 Stamp duty. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
  • Obtain certification or Adjudication stamp for duty-exempt transfersAny Person
s.136 Directions. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
  • Comply with written directions from the Secretary of StateAny Person
15 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
s.125 The Public Transport Users' Committee for England
s.125 Functions of the Committee
s.125 Power to confer functions in relation to the Committee
Schedules

Schedules

1 of 141 shown
s.sch005 The Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Secretary of State must fund and support the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory CommitteeCrown / Minister / Government department
140 other schedules
s.sch001 In section 159(1) of the Transport Act 1968 (interpretation)—
s.sch001 In section 59 of that Act (power to make regulations...
s.sch001 In section 68(4)(a) of that Act (provisions to which a...
s.sch001 Section 81(2) of that Act (definition for purposes of that...
s.sch001 In section 82(1) of that Act (definitions of expressions used...
s.sch001 In section 83 of that Act (construction of references in...
s.sch001 (1) The Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 shall be amended...
s.sch001 (1) Subject to any provision made by or under this...
s.sch001 In section 63(3)(b) of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act...
s.sch001 (1) Paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 to the Energy Act...
s.sch001 In section 12 of the 1981 Act (PSV operator’s licence),...
s.sch001 . . . . . . . . . ....
s.sch001 In section 46 of that Act (fare-paying passengers on school...
s.sch001 In section 52(1)(a)(i) of that Act (fees for grant of...
s.sch001 In section 53(1) of that Act (payment of expenses), for...
s.sch001 In sections 57 and 58 of that Act (death, etc....
s.sch003 The following provisions of the 1968 Act shall be omitted—...
s.sch003 (1) In section 15 of that Act (further functions of...
s.sch003 In section 15A of that Act (control of Executive by...
s.sch003 In section 16 of that Act (publication of annual report...
s.sch003 In section 20 of that Act (special duty of Executive...
s.sch003 In section 22 of that Act (provisions as to orders...
s.sch003 In section 24(2) of that Act (co-operation between Passenger Transport...
s.sch003 In section 54 of that Act (provisions with respect to...
s.sch003 In section 134(1) of that Act (authorities to whom duty...
s.sch003 In section 137 of that Act (obligation to establish machinery...
s.sch003 In section 141(1) of that Act (application of Town and...
s.sch003 In— (a) sections 10, 12, 14, 15, 20 and 23...
s.sch003 —In section 160(5) of that Act (stamp duty not chargeable...
s.sch003 (1) In Schedule 5 to that Act (constitution, etc., of...
s.sch003 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
s.sch003 In paragraph 6(2)(c) of Schedule 3 to the Pensions (Increase)...
s.sch003 In section 202 of the 1972 Act (public transport in...
s.sch003 In Schedule 24 to that Act, Part II shall be...
s.sch003 In section 150 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973,...
s.sch003 Section 151 of that Act shall be omitted.
s.sch003 In Schedule 18 to that Act, paragraphs 1(a) to (d)...
s.sch003 In section 82 of the Local Government, Planning and Land...
s.sch003 In section 9(6) of that Act, the words “or 6”...
s.sch003 In section 1 of the Transport Act 1983 (interpretation of...
s.sch003 In section 3(3) of that Act (formulation of Executive’s financial...
s.sch003 In section 9 of that Act (repeals and minor amendments),...
s.sch003 In paragraph 31(b) of Schedule 9 to the Road Traffic...
s.sch003 In section 10 of that Act (general powers of Executive)—...
s.sch003 In section 11 of that Act (Executive’s financial duty), as...
s.sch003 In section 12 of that Act (borrowing powers of Executive)—...
s.sch003 For section 13 of that Act (precepting powers), as it...
s.sch003 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
s.sch003 In section 14(3) of that Act, as it applies to...
s.sch004 The Transport Tribunal (referred to in this Schedule as “the...
s.sch004 (1) The president or, in his absence, such one of...
s.sch004 (1) Subject to paragraph 10 above, the Lord Chancellor may...
s.sch004 (1) The Secretary of State shall give to the tribunal...
s.sch004 (1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2) below and to any rules...
s.sch004 (1) Subject to sub-paragraphs (2) and (3) below, an appeal...
s.sch004 The Lord Chancellor shall consult the Lord Advocate before exercising...
s.sch004 The tribunal shall make annually a report of all their...
s.sch004 (1) The First-tier Tribunal and the Upper Tribunal are to...
s.sch004 Paragraph 12 applies in relation to the First-tier Tribunal and...
s.sch004 (1) The tribunal shall consist of— (a) a president and...
s.sch004 (1) Subject to the following provisions of this paragraph and...
s.sch004 (1) A member of the tribunal appointed by the Secretary...
s.sch004 The Lord Chancellor may make available to the tribunal such...
s.sch004 There shall be paid to the members of the tribunal...
s.sch004 Any remuneration or allowances payable under paragraph 6 above and...
s.sch004 (1) Subject to paragraph 9(2) below, The tribunal shall for...
s.sch004 (1) On an appeal from any determination of a traffic...
s.sch005 The Secretary of State shall make arrangements for the Committee...
s.sch005 (1) The Secretary of State shall provide the Committee with...
s.sch005 (1) Any person appointed to be a member of the...
s.sch005 (1) The Committee shall meet whenever convened by the Chairman...
s.sch005 The Committee may delegate the exercise and performance of any...
s.sch005 The validity of any proceedings of the Committee shall not...
s.sch006 (1) In this paragraph “the transitional period” means the period...
s.sch006 (1) Each traffic commissioner shall publish such information with respect...
s.sch006 (1) For the purpose of ensuring that in the school...
s.sch006 A road service licence (other than one for a service...
s.sch006 (1) The person who, immediately before the commencement of section...
s.sch006 (1) This paragraph applies where the condition attached under section...
s.sch006 Anything done or treated by virtue of any enactment as...
s.sch006 (1) A road service licence which— (a) is in force...
s.sch006 In relation to a London local service—
s.sch006 In so far as any regulations in force immediately before...
s.sch006 Any regulations made under section 17(3) of the 1968 Act...
s.sch006 (1) In paragraphs (a) and (b) of section 31(2) for...
s.sch006 (1) Section 89 of this Act shall not apply in...
s.sch006 (1) Where— (a) before the date on which the repeal...
s.sch006 (1) A scheme established under section 93 of this Act...
s.sch006 (1) Notwithstanding the repeal by this Act of the Travel...
s.sch006 During any period after section 104 of this Act comes...
s.sch006 (1) The repeals made by this Act which relate to...
s.sch006 Notwithstanding the repeal by this Act of—
s.sch006 (1) In section 32 (attachment to licences of conditions as...
s.sch006 In section 34 (grant of road service licences for services...
s.sch006 In section 50(8) (persons who, in addition to applicant, have...
s.sch006 (1) In paragraphs 7 to 12 below— “local service” means...
s.sch006 (1) Where an application for registration of the prescribed particulars...
s.sch006 (1) Where the prescribed particulars of a local service have...
s.sch006 (1) Any person making an application which falls within one...
s.sch007 In England and Wales, the provisions made by or under...
s.sch007 In section 34 of that Act (assistance for rural bus...
s.sch007 In section 34 of that Act (assistance for rural bus...
s.sch007 In section 56 of that Act (assistance towards capital expenditure...
s.sch007 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
s.sch007 At the end of section 5(6) of the Local Authority...
s.sch007 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
s.sch007 In Schedule 18 to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973,...
s.sch007 (1) In section 46(1)(a) of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions)...
s.sch007 In section 92 of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976 (restriction...
s.sch007 (1) In section 1 of the Concessionary Travel for Handicapped...
s.sch007 In section 25 of the London Hackney Carriages Act 1843...
s.sch007 In section 64(3) of the Transport Act 1980 (definition of...
s.sch007 (1) The Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981 shall be amended...
s.sch007 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
s.sch007 (1) The Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 shall be amended...
s.sch007 In section 35(1) of the London Regional Transport Act 1984...
s.sch007 In section 55(3) of that Act (definitions of expressions used...
s.sch007 In section 68 of that Act (interpretation), the definitions of...
s.sch007 In Schedule 5 to that Act (transitional provisions and savings)—...
s.sch007 Section 46 of the Town Police Clauses Act 1847 (drivers...
s.sch007 In section 101 of the Road Traffic Act 1930 (power...
s.sch007 Section 1 of the Transport Charges &c. (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act...
s.sch007 In section 3(3) of the 1962 Act (powers of the...
s.sch007 In section 10(1)(xiii) of the 1968 Act (power of Passenger...
s.sch007 In section 15(2)(b) of that Act (approval of Passenger Transport...
s.sch007 In section 16(2) of that Act (annual report of Authorities...
s.schedule n3 para.1 (1) The Transport Act 1968 shall be amended as follows....
s.schedule n3 para.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
s.schedule n3 para.3 . . . . . . . . . ....
s.schedule n3 para.4 (1) The Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981 shall be amended...
s.schedule n3 para.5 In section 18 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982,...
s.schedule n3 para.6 In section 38(4) and (7) of and paragraph 31(a) of...
s.schedule n3 para.7 In Schedule 5 to the London Regional Transport Act 1984,...
1 other provision
s.traffic commissioners Traffic Commissioners

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