Operating a bus service in Northern Ireland
This guide will help you to understand what you need to do to run a bus company and service in Northern Ireland.
Public transport in Northern Ireland is regulated by the government. The main public bus services are operated by Translink, a government-funded organisation. To run a business as a bus operator, and to run public passenger transport services, you need to be licensed.
To become a bus operator in Northern Ireland you need a Bus Operator Licence from the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA). If you want to operate your buses as public passenger transport services, you will need a Commercial Bus Service Permit from the Department for Infrastructure (DfI).
The new Service Permit system, which started on 5th October 2015, is one of the outcomes from DfI's Public Transport Reform proposals, the introduction of the Transport Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 and the making of the Public Passenger Transport (Service Agreements and Service Permits) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015.
This guide will help you to understand what you need to do to run a bus company and a public transport service in Northern Ireland, who to contact to arrange the right permissions, and the details you'll need to provide.
Bus public transport in Northern Ireland
A Commercial Bus Service Permit system has replaced the old bus route licensing element of the Road Service licence.
Translink provides most public transport services in Northern Ireland through its subsidiary companies - Metro in Belfast and Ulsterbus across the country. In addition there are many other public transport services operated by private bus operators. These are mainly regular stopping, formerly known as 'stage carriage', or express services.
Operators running public transport services needed a Road Service Licence from the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) and separate approval from the DVA to operate such bus routes.
The new Commercial Bus Service Permit system, administered by the Department for Infrastructure (DfI), replaced the old bus route licensing element of the Road Service Licence - this is now called a "Bus Operator Licence".
The new Service Permit system is designed to enable those operators to continue providing existing services. It also gives any licensed operator the opportunity to apply for a new service where the operator identifies a gap in the market, and where DfI is satisfied that the service won't have a significant adverse impact on other existing services.
As part of the Service Permit application process, an operator may request to begin or end the service at a Translink bus station, and/or request to use existing bus stops along the proposed route.
For more information on setting up a bus company, see bus operator licensing.
For more information on running a public passenger transport service, see commercial bus service permits.
How to get a bus operator licence
You need a Bus Operator’s Licence to carry passengers in a vehicle carrying nine or more passengers for hire or reward.
You need a Bus Operator Licence (BOL) to carry passengers if you use a vehicle that is constructed and equipped for carrying nine or more passengers (not counting the driver) for hire or reward. Hire or reward means any payment in cash or kind to enable the passenger to use your service.
If a vehicle is constructed and equipped for carrying up to eight persons (not counting the driver) it is classed as a taxi, not a bus - see setting up and running a taxi service.
You may be prosecuted if you carry passengers for reward without a bus operator licence.
How do I apply for a Bus Operator Licence?
You can apply online for a BOL. You should apply for it at least eight weeks before you wish to start operating, to allow time for the application to be processed. Once the application has been agreed in principle you will be asked to pay a fee of £78 per vehicle for the grant of the licence.
Your application will be assessed on a set of criteria including:
- you and all relevant partners or directors are of good repute - see Access NI criminal records checks.
- you have at least the minimum required financial resources
- you or the person employed to be responsible for transport operations, are professionally able - the transport manager must have continuous and effective responsibility for managing the vehicle operations
- any other Bus Operator Licence applications
- you must have an effective and stable business in Northern Ireland
Find out more about how applications for a bus operator licence are assessed.
Commercial Bus Service Permits
Detailing the types of bus services that need a Service Permit from the Department for Infrastructure.
You need a Commercial Bus Service Permit from the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) to operate a public passenger transport service in Northern Ireland. These are additional to the network of services provided by Translink.
The types of service which need a Service Permit are:
- Regular Stopping Services
- Express Services
- Sightseeing Services
- Demand Responsive services
- Event-specific Services
- Taxibus Services
You can download a Commercial Bus Service Permit application form.
The types of services that do not require a Service Permit are:
- Tours
- Private Hire Services
- Shuttle-bus Services
DfI will consider Service Permit applications according to:
- the suitability of the route
- any other ongoing or previous applications
- how the needs of people likely to use the service are currently catered for
- the effect that granting a Service Permit would have on other Permit holders or the contracted network
- the need to ensure fair competition
Find detailed guidelines on the Commercial Bus Service Permit application process.