Explanatory note

These Regulations lay down the rules for Part 1 of the Transport Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 (“the Act”) in relation to the provision of public passenger transport services and do so in accordance with the requirements of Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1370/2007 on public passenger transport services by rail and road.

The Regulations provide arrangements for the introduction of service agreements for the provision of public passenger transport services or services ancillary to public passenger transport services, ensuring compliance with Regulation (EC) No. 1370/2007.

The Regulations also provide arrangements for a service permit system which has been designed to complement public passenger transport services provided under service agreements.

Regulation 3 and Schedule 1 set out what may be dealt with in a service agreement.

Regulation 4(1) and Schedule 2 put in place the review provisions for service agreements which are directly awarded.

Regulation 4(2) and Schedule 3 put in place the review provisions for competitively tendered contracts.

Regulations 5 to 11 and Schedule 4 set out the necessary requirements for the implementation of the service permit system, put in place by the Act, which is designed to allow for public passenger transport services to be provided alongside those provided under a service agreement, as described in regulation 3.

Regulation 12 sets out the category of service which is to be treated as exempt from the service permit system.