Eligible services17
1
A service is an eligible service for the purposes of the scheme if it is a service which operates wholly within Scotland or a Northern England service and in either case is either—
a
a local service within the meaning given by section 2 of the Transport Act 19857, or
b
a service not falling within sub-paragraph (a) that meets all of the following conditions—
i
the service is a scheduled bus or coach service which runs at least once per week for a period of not less than six weeks,
ii
the seats on the vehicle by means of which the service is provided are normally available to members of the general public and the service is used regularly by such members, and
iii
arrangements are made which afford members of the general public a reasonable opportunity to become aware of the existence of the service, the times of its operation and the places which it serves.
2
A service is not an eligible service if it falls within one of the following classes—
a
services which operate through the night at a premium fare,
b
excursions, tours or group hire of coaches,
c
any service where fares currently charged by the operator of that service include a special amenity element, or
d
services which are difficult to align with routine services and fare structures.
3
For the purposes of paragraph (2)(c) fares are to be regarded as including a special amenity element if they are significantly high in relation to the general level of fares for comparable journeys.