The Next Stop in the UK’s Public Transport Revolution

In an age where we can track our food order down the street in real-time and know exactly when a delivery will arrive, it’s no surprise that passengers want the same experience from public transport. But for many, especially those living outside of major cities, real-time bus information can be patchy, unpredictable, or completely missing. 

And that’s a problem because trust in the reliability (i.e. knowing the bus will turn up) and efficiency of public transport is the foundation of encouraging people to use it. The good news? Data can change that. When real-time information is accurate and available, it builds confidence, which drives the big shift from private cars to shared, sustainable travel. 

Public transport has been a national priority since Labour took office on 5th July 2024. The government’s mission-driven approach puts accessibility, decarbonisation, and growth in adoption at the centre, and as Bus Back Better laid out, buses are key to unlocking social mobility, economic opportunity, and net-zero goals. 

Great work is already underway to improve the transparency and accessibility of public transport data. The Department for Transport (DfT) has made major strides in the development of transparent, open data platforms covering bus timetables, routes, and fares via the Bus Open Data Service (BODS); access points such as stops and stations through the National Public Transport Access Nodes (NaPTAN); and planned roadworks through Street Manager, among others. These platforms are the digital foundations on which smarter, more responsive transport can be built.  

The ingredients are all there: the data, the platforms, and the political will. The challenge now is presenting this information in formats that passengers can understand and use. Perhaps it’s time to reimagine the passenger experience itself—not just by making data available, but by making it meaningful. 

Better Data = Better Journeys 

When real-time data is clear, consistent, and reflects what’s actually happening, people trust it and use it. When it’s off (or disappears completely #ghost buses) that trust evaporates. 

Recent improvements in data processing pipelines (such as those seen in BODS) are beginning to unlock a step-change in quality. We're seeing smarter validation tools, more reliable links between timetable, vehicle locations, and increasingly dynamic integration with local infrastructure like traffic signals and disruption reports. All of this means more reliable live data and that unlocks powerful innovation. What if we took all that rich real-time data from BODS and NaPTAN… and gave it a voice?  

Say hello to Buster, our friendly AI travel assistant prototype.  

Imagine a journey where Buster: 

• Offers chat and voice-based support to passengers, making buses more accessible and easier to use 
• Delivers multilingual, real-time route planning and -provides disruption alerts 
• Suggests on-demand alternatives when things go off schedule 
• Adds a little behavioural nudge ("Heads up, your bus is 2 mins away—might be time to head out!") 

For new or anxious passengers, or those navigating complex or unfrequented routes, Buster turns a potentially stressful experience into a smooth one. It reduces the cognitive burden, bringing the ease and personalisation we associate with private car travel right into the public transport space. 

In rural and semi-rural areas where traditional fixed routes don’t always make sense, Buster could help power on-demand, flexible services. Imagine combining high-quality real-time data with AI routing to summon the right vehicle at the right time, optimising fleet use and extending reach without empty buses trundling across the countryside. It’s a smarter use of resources and a more inclusive experience for people who might otherwise be left behind. 

The Future Is Responsive, Data-Led… and Friendly 

The future of public transport isn’t about flooding the roads with more buses—it’s about making every journey smarter, more reliable, and built around real passenger needs. 

At Kainos, we’re passionate about making this vision a reality, combining AI, open data, and bringing human-centred design to the forefront of public transport to rebuild trust and encourage behaviour change. 

Because when passengers trust the system, they use it. And when they use it, everyone wins. 

Curious about how we’re building AI-enabled transport? Want to meet Buster? 
 

We’d love to chat.