Author: Harminder Sangha

DfT BSOG Payments – COVID-19

british pound

The Department for Transport has provided some welcome news for the bus industry confirming that they will pay BSOG on eligible services that were not operated due to COVID-19. To provide operators with much needed cashflow they have also confirmed that BSOG estimate payments will continue to be made on the basis that operations had continued as planned, without any reduction for service changes.

Department for transportation logo

Details of the full announcement can be found below.

Many operators will be currently processing their eligible kilometres based on revised schedules reflecting their reduced operations. As part of the certification audit EPM will ensure that the necessary amendments are made so that the mileage claimed reflects what would have operated in the absence of the COVID-19 outbreak. This will be a relatively simple exercise for users of the EPM Traffic system – the weekly mileages can be rolled forward using the previous schedule that was in place. For other operators we will advise on the best course of action prior to the certification audit.

If you have any questions on the announcement made by the DfT or on the BSOG scheme in general please contact us on 01527 556940 or via email.

March 26, 2020

BSOG-letter-to-operators-COVID-19-Final

 Download Document

Helping drivers return to work with the Depot Performance System (DPS)

bus driver with covid mask

Following the easing of restrictions, operators are now planning for the phased return to work of their driving staff and the mobilisation of their fleets. However, with the majority of drivers having been furloughed, returning to work after in some cases lengthy layoffs, presents operators with a number of challenges. We explore how the Depot Performance System (DPS) can help drivers return to work quickly and easily.

Onboarding drivers

Where staff are returning to driving duties after a number of weeks off the road, there will be an inherent risk of vehicle related accidents.

Accidents have many negative consequences for operators, however the impact on vehicle availability at a time where more vehicles are required to carry fewer passengers and their impact on costs stand out at this time.

The safety of driving staff is also paramount to ensure that they are trained on new working practises, particularly those around social distancing measures and driver Health and Safety. In addition to this, drivers effectively communicating with customers regarding social distancing will be an important factor to maintain customer service levels.

Utilising data available in DPS

The wealth of data in DPS can be utilised by operators to assist with these challenges.

The ticketing data within ETM Analysis can be used to identify when a driver last worked and their recent route knowledge. This can then be used to form the following workflow in the EPM Operational Performance Module:

Compliance checks – any anniversary dates (such as licence checks, training courses, medical reminders) can be reviewed via an automated report, to identify any compliance issues.

Driver assessments – a new assessment type can be configured for returning drivers, to ensure that all drivers have been through this process prior to going back into service with a vehicle.

Return to work interview – return to work interviews can be added, which would cover changes in working practices and effective customer communications.

EPM support

The EPM support desk continues to operate on a business as usual basis, to provide operators with support and assistance and can be contacted via epm@epm-bus.com or on 01527 556 940.

If you feel that EPM are able to assist in any way to meet the current challenges facing operators, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Managing social distancing with the Depot Performance System (DPS)

Social distancing on bus

With the UK government set to put in place a roadmap to ease restrictions and lift some travel bans, operators concerns will be in respect of the safety of their staff, with considerable challenges around PPE and vehicle sanitisation. However, as passenger numbers do increase, managing social distancing on board vehicles will also present a significant challenge. We explore how the Depot Performance System (DPS) can help.

The social distancing challenge

For bus operators there is no reservation system to book online (this may be the solution for train) and as such it is not possible to manage demand in advance. Deploying inspectors to vehicles to monitor passenger numbers is unlikely to be a viable solution, due to the cost and staffing levels required.

There will also be an impact on customer service, as some passengers may have to be refused travel, due to safe capacity limits.

Utilising data available in DPS

The wealth of data in DPS can be used by operators to help meet this challenge, which could exist for a number of months.

On the day

Users of the Bus Incident Reporting Screen (BIRS) can record driver communications where their vehicle is at capacity using a ‘bus at capacity’ incident code and reacting to demand where possible. BIRS incidents can also provide visibility of capacity issues on the network for customer services to notify passengers, for example via operator app’s or social media.

Retrospective review

The data recorded in BIRS then allows for a retrospective review to enable operators to gauge capacity requirements. This data can be utilised alongside ticketing data, to review passengers carried on a journey referenced to the vehicles safe seating capacity. Similarly, where operators have configured a specific button push for the driver to register a ‘bus at capacity’ this data can be analysed.

Monitoring customer complaints for ‘full bus’/‘refused access’ customer feedback categories will also provide more valuable insight.

 EPM support

Reviewing these different datasets together will provide operators with a range of information to assist with operational planning, in what are extremely challenging times.  EPM can work with operators to tailor automated daily reporting to streamline this analysis. The EPM support desk continues to operate on a business as usual basis, to provide operators with support and assistance and can be contacted via epm@epm-bus.com.

COVID-19 BUS SERVICE SUPPORT GRANT (CBSSG)

Lady with covid mask on bus

An additional £167m for the bus industry

Great news for the bus industry — the DfT have announced that there will be extra support through the COVID-19 Bus Service Support Grant (CBSSG). This temporary funding of £167m is in addition to the increased amounts of BSOG to pre-COVID-19 levels previously announced by the Department.

In summary:

  • Available to operators of eligible local bus services who are currently running between 40% to 50% of scheduled commercial mileage for a typical non-school week.
  • Payments will be available for three months starting from 17 March 2020.
  • The initial payment will be based on 2017/18 data submitted to the Department, with the following formula used:

  • By the end of the month operators will need to provide a list of services (including registration numbers), the live commercial kilometres operated and passenger details (split by fare-paying and concessions). The same information will be required for 2019 as a baseline.
  • Operators will not be permitted to achieve an operating margin through CBSSG funding.

Full details of the letter sent out to operators can be found here.

April 7, 2020

200406-CBSSG-Letter-to-Operators-Final-as-sent.pdf

 Download Document

If you have any questions on the CBSSG scheme then please get in touch with epm@epm-bus.com.

2019/20 Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) figures for England published

concessionary reimbursment

The Department for Transport has released details of the BSOG payments made to local bus and community transport operators during 2019/20. In total £194.3m was paid out.

Also published are details of payments made to local authorities since the devolution of BSOG in 2013. This amounted to £55.2m in 2019/20.

It should be noted that the values are based on the amounts paid out by the Department over the 2019/20 financial year. This can differ from an operator’s final certified claim value submitted during the year due to timing differences. Such variances will arise where an operator’s claim year does not match the DfT’s financial year or a settlement (receivable or repayment) crosses into the following year.

If you would like to view details of the BSOG payments by operator and local authority they are available to view and download from the DfT website using the following links:-

DfT BSOG payments to Operators from 2010

DfT BSOG payments to Local Authorities from 2013

Alternatively we have extracted the data by financial year into a spreadsheet which can be downloaded here:-

July 3, 2020

DfT BSOG Payments

 Download Document

If you have any questions on the Department for Transport payment schedule or would like to discuss how EPM can assist with your BSOG claim please contact epm@epm-bus.com.

Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) – DfT Information Request

bus driver cockpit

Department for transportation logo

To speed up the processing of BSOG claims the DfT are asking operators to complete a year on year mileage reconciliation when submitting both actual and estimate claim forms. It is hoped that by completing this spreadsheet the number of queries being raised by the Department will reduce resulting in the faster payment of claims. This should benefit the majority of operators as they are usually due additional BSOG at year end when the AVL, Smartcard and Low Carbon incentives are paid.

The provision of information is entirely voluntary however as part of our certification process we will be submitting the data with the certified PSV311 to ensure our client’s cashflow is maximised. This will also be the case for those operators where we prepare the PSV310 estimate. In both instances where we submit the form we will utilise our own version of the spreadsheet, which the DfT’s BSOG team will accept, as this already forms part of our audit programme.

A copy of the email that is being sent to operators is provided below along with a link to the DfT’s version of the spreadsheet.

If you have any questions please get in touch with us on 01527 556940 or via email.

April 3, 2019

Reconciliation-and-Comparator-Tool

 Download Document

 

Dear Operator

As an interim measure to help streamline the processing of claims we are asking operators to complete the attached spreadsheet when submitting an Estimated or Certified claim. Please note that this is voluntary and is meant as a complimentary addition to the process to assist us in speeding up our checking procedures. We are also more than happy for you to forward this onto your auditor for them to complete (if your auditor is E P Morris please request them to complete their version of this spreadsheet). You will still receive a blank claim form as usual for completion through the post which will still need to be completed to claim your grant.

The spreadsheet contains some basic instructions and a Q & A section however if you have any queries regarding completion of this then please feel free to contact this office through the usual channels detailed on the claim forms.

Thank you for your consideration.

Any problems please do not hesitate to contact the BSOG Team.

Kind Regards

D/06, Ashdown House, Sedlescombe Road North, St Leonards on Sea, TN37 7GA

BSOG & Concessionary Fares – Scotland

scottish coast

Transport Scotland have recently written to operators to advise them of the arrangements for their BSOG and Concessionary Fares schemes from 1 April 2019.

A copy of the letter can be found at the foot of this page – the main points to note are as follows:

BSOG

The underlying BSOG rate of 14.4 pence per kilometre (ppkm) is maintained, as is the rate of 17ppkm for sustainable biodiesel operations.

There will be four rates for new Low Carbon Vehicles (LCV) introduced after 1 April 2019, ranging from 5ppkm through to 30ppkm, each rate being dependent on the level of emissions that can be achieved by qualifying vehicles. For these new vehicles they will only be eligible for the LCV incentive for five years from the date of first claim.

For operators of existing LCV’s that have been claimed prior to 1 April 2019 they will continue to receive the current rate of 10.1ppkm, however this payment will also be limited to five years. Therefore buses that have already received the LCV incentive for five or more years will no longer be eligible.

We understand that Transport Scotland will be contacting operators over the next few months to request additional data for those LCV’s currently in operation and on order so that a database of qualifying vehicles can be established.

Concessionary Fares

The reimbursement rate for 2019/20 will be 56.5% of the adult single fare with the scheme capped at £213.65million. The rate for 2018/19 was 56.8%.

Transport Scotland have forecast that the Concessionary payments for 2018/19 will be around £206m. As this will exceed the cap of £202.1m, operators may receive reduced payments in period 13.

If you have any questions on the above please contact epm@epm-bus.com

The letter to operators from Transport Scotland can be viewed by clicking the following link:
TS BSOG Concessions Letter to Operators