Rail replacement bus service

A rail replacement bus service uses buses to replace a passenger train service either on a temporary or permanent basis. The train service that is replaced may be of any type such as light rail, tram, streetcar, commuter rail, regional rail or heavy rail, intercity passenger service. The rail service may be replaced if the line is closed due to rail maintenance, a breakdown of a train, a rail accident, strike action, or if the rail service is not economically viable.

Terms for a rail replacement bus service include bustitution (a portmanteau of the words "bus" and "substitution", may also be bustitute) and bus bridge. Substitution of rail services by buses can be unpopular and subject to criticism, so the term bustitution is often used pejoratively.

A similar concept in some ways is motorization, but that term more broadly refers to the rise of the automobile as well as bus transportation.

In Australia, a permanent or temporary rail-replacement service change is often referred to as bustitution.

Via Rail, the operator of the national passenger rail network, uses the term "bustitution" to refer to rail replacement with buses.

As in the United Kingdom buses replaced rail services on closed lines. The most recent example can be found in County Wexford whereupon the suspension of rail services between Rosslare Europort and Waterford in 2010 Bus Éireann route 370 was introduced. However the bus takes considerably longer than the train journey and fails to serve Waterford railway station.

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