PTO (Public Transport Operator)

A Public Transport Operator is a business that runs public transport services.

They operate commercially, charging the customer directly for a ticket to travel for their services. Or they run contracted services for a PTA (Public Transport Authority). In this case, the PTA usually decides the schedules and manages the customer experience, including retailing the ticket to the passenger.

Where a UK network is Franchised, as it is in London (under Transport for London) and Manchester (under Transport for Greater Manchester), the PTA contracts routes to several PTOs.