Take it from us
Working on strategic projects such as bus franchising, acquisitions, or introducing electric vehicles? Ensuring everything is legally compliant can sometimes feel like an extra weight on your journey.
Known for undergoing considerable development in recent years, those operating in the innovation-led bus sector are regularly faced with a unique set of challenges. From emerging technologies advancing faster than regulatory frameworks, to complex projects and construction management issues, there are countless obstacles that must be overcome in order to succeed.
Capable of providing comprehensive legal services across all areas of the bus transportation sector, our dedicated team of lawyers are perfectly positioned to provide informed and trustworthy advice to a range of clients. From transactional to transformational, our experience has cleared the way for some of the leading companies in the industry to achieve their goals, including Arriva, Transdev and city councils up and down the UK.
Supported by the wider firm, including our renowned team of technology specialists, clients of our public transport law firm benefit from the combined knowledge and expertise of everyone at Womble Bond Dickinson. This not only helps us ensure that clients receive invaluable guidance regarding the latest technological developments which are shaping the industry, such as smart ticketing and green initiatives, but also gives us the unique insight needed to anticipate industry changes and quickly devise and establish sustainable, robust solutions.
Bus & public transport law services
Backed by our team’s extensive experience, we offer legal services to cover every aspect of our client’s needs. From the fulfilment of commercial and risk-management objectives for complicated and ground-breaking projects, to the day-to-day delivery of regulatory guidance, our lawyers can assist with all of your legal responsibilities.
- Advising on corporate, statutory and regulatory law
- Drafting operational, maintenance and other commercial contracts
- Assisting with enhanced partnerships and bus franchising
- Commercial and injury claims litigation
- Real estate and development advice
- Procurement guidance
- Projects and construction management
- Health and safety and environment regulations
- Assistance with the deployment of zero-emission buses and related charging infrastructure.
With over 20 years of experience advising clients across the industry, including private sector bus operators, procuring authorities, infrastructure providers and the wider supply chain in the bus industry, our public transport lawyers have the knowledge required to assist you. Whether you’re a small-scale bus operator in the UK, or have taken your business international with services in the UK and US, we’re available to share our insights not only on the law, but on how it affects your future business plans.
If you’re looking to develop a strong relationship with a bus law firm, the team at Womble Bond Dickinson are ready to help you obtain your goals. To learn more about our bus lawyers and the services they offer, fill in our simple contact form online and a member of the team will be in touch.
Key contacts
Related sectors
What we do
- Corporate and Commercial
- Competition
- Data Protection
- Dispute Resolution
- Environmental
- Employment
- Insurance
- Intellectual Property
- Pensions
- Real Estate
- Regulatory.
Examples of work
- Acted for Transdev on:
- Its successful bid to provide surface transport, car park and forecourt management services at Heathrow Airport
- The Harrogate Electric Bus project
- Numerous due diligence activities (including key issues such as real estate, data protection, intellectual property, environmental, employment and pensions) and subsequent corporate acquisitions to support the growth of its UK bus business including the acquisition of Yellow Bus, Blazefield Group, Trident Heritage and Rosso
- Various property matters and numerous lettings for Transdev Blazefield which most recently included the Idle depot in Bradford formerly operated by Yorkshire Tiger
- The auction process and sale of London Sovereign to RATP
- The UK aspects of the merger between Transdev and Veolia Transport and the demerger of RATP from Transdev.
- Acted for Tower Transit on the sale of Impact Group to HCT Group.
- Acted for Arriva on:
- Its successful challenge to the award by London Luton Airport of an exclusive coach concession to National Express
- The sale of a bus depot for redevelopment opportunities and on the sale and leaseback of various other bus depots
- The management of a portfolio of over 100 properties within its UK bus business
- The lease of its head office and main regional bus depot
- Supported various bus operators in bidding for franchised operations and analogous tendering processes and so have first-hand experience advising on matters relating to timetable specification, operational performance, the simplification of fares and ticketing, improving access to transport networks, the wider passenger experience and the green transport revolution
- Supported Nottingham City Transport on an in-depth review of the provision of local bus services which was carried out alongside the Competition and Markets Authority and included being involved in a number of market enquiries into the bus industry and local bus operations
- Acted for York City Council on its Quality Partnership Schemes with First Group
- Acted for Leeds City Council on a joint venture agreement with the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive relating to the joint promotion of the New Generation Transport electric trolleybus project
- Supported various bus operators on multi-operator ticketing schemes (and the CMA Guidance as to how such schemes should be operated) and the introduction of contactless payment cards to be used on numerous public transport networks
- Acted for various bus operators on numerous regulatory investigations by the HSE, Environment Agency and DVSA in relation to matters such as serious injuries sustained by employees, traffic management within and on the approach to bus depots, the management of risks of violence to drivers, the failure to act on previous assaults and driver (fitness to work) procedures following fatal accidents and the alleged loss of containment
- Supported various bus operators at Traffic Commissioner public inquiries and hearings and on all manner of Public Service Vehicle licence applications
- Acted for various bus operators in respect of numerous motor claims, employers liability claims, public liability claims and Equality Act and disability discrimination claims brought by passengers.
Overview
If you’re working in the transport sector, you’ll be dedicated to taking opportunities to enhance the passenger experience.
But there are many bumps in the road along the way – securing funding, maintaining ageing infrastructure, and successfully implementing sustainable changes, to name a few.
Find an expert
Leave it to the experts
Your bus and light rail team
With one of the largest specialist transport teams in the UK, we have bags of knowledge. Strong sector experience on a regional and national level, with a deep understanding of the bus and rail regulatory frameworks in the UK, as well as offering advice on the impact of the Better Buses Bill.
You’ll need a legal team with close working relationships with government bodies, regulators, and transport operators. Plus, we’re well-connected with local politicians, combined authorities, local transport authorities, professional services firms, trade bodies, and the wider supply chain in the bus and light rail sectors.
Need a rundown of our services?
- Bus franchising
- Bus electrification projects, including the deployment of electric/zero emission buses and related charging infrastructure, associated asset financing, and bus and infrastructure grant funding
- Corporate acquisitions and disposals of bus companies and related depots
- Regulatory matters, including Public Service Vehicle licence applications and Traffic Commissioner public inquiries and hearings
- Light rail concession arrangements
- Major infrastructure and development projects, including depot work
- Rolling stock procurements, leasing, and maintenance
- General procurement law compliance
- Managing big data, smart technology, contactless payments, and mobile ticketing
- Dispute resolution matters, including in respect of Equality Act, race discrimination, and disability discrimination claims brought by passengers
- Insurance advice in respect of motor claims (ranging from vehicle damage through to complex catastrophic and fatal injuries), employers liability claims, and public liability claims
- Competition law advice
With teams on the ground in the US too, you’ll have access to advice on transatlantic transport matters.
In need of a bus and light rail lawyer?
At Womble Bond Dickinson we have an exceptional team of talented lawyers and business professionals who can offer guidance and find the solutions right for your business. We have both broad and niche expertise across all our UK and US offices.
The proof's in our experience
- Transdev and Tower Transit on bidding for bus franchise operations, including the Greater Manchester Bus Franchising scheme, covering legal and procurement strategy, due diligence, contractual interpretation, risk allocation, depot and fleet strategies, zero-emission buses, on-board intelligent transport systems, TUPE, pensions, and operational performance
- Transdev Blazefield on bus electrification projects and associated grant funding
- Various bus industry organisations on the National Bus Strategy for England, including Enhanced Partnerships, local Bus Service Improvement Plans, bus franchising models, and potential public ownership.
- Transdev Dublin Light Rail on its successful bid to operate and maintain the Luas light rail system in Dublin
- Nexus on the £300 million reinvigoration and £100 million extension of the Tyne and Wear Metro, and the letting of its light rail operating concession
- Stadler and Stadler Rail Services UK on contractual arrangements for new trains for the Tyne and Wear Metro and Glasgow Subway.
"The WBD Transport team is exceptionally knowledgeable with particular reference to all issues regarding the railway sector. They understand our business and are able to support all our requirements thoroughly and efficiently."
Legal 500 2023
"The Team at WBD is highly skilled, knowledgeable and always available to help. They have a wealth of knowledge in the rail and transport sector and have a broad set of capabilities within the team, so there is always a solution at hand."
Legal 500 2023
