Our bus, coach and tram passenger research

Bus Mystery Traveller Survey

In April 2009 Passenger Focus assumed responsibility from the Department for Transport for the Bus Mystery Traveller Survey (BMTS).

This is an ongoing survey to monitor and record changes in the quality of local bus services. Trained assessors undertake journeys on over 4800 bus services a year and rate them on a number of aspects, including punctuality, cleanliness and driving standards. The survey is currently undertaken on local bus services in nine areas in England (the six Passenger Transport Executives, plus Bristol, Leicester and Nottingham).

A minimum of 1200 bus journeys are assessed each quarter and the survey represents typical patterns of bus usage, by day of week and time of day. 

The survey has been running since 2006-07 and we will continue to publish the findings from the survey according to the release dates below.

The BMTS is published twice a year, an annual report and an interim report (covering results from quarter 1 and quarter 2) . The proposed release dates are as follows:

• Interim report 2010/2011 - October 2010
• Annual report 2010/2011 - May 2011

Please click on the links below to view our BMTS research to date:

BMTS Q2 2009 - 2010 report (revised 10 February 2010)

BMTS annual results 2008 - 2009 (revised 1 February 2010)

BMTS annual results 2009 - 2010