Bus Passenger Terminal

1. Definition and Functional Positioning

A bus passenger terminal refers to the collective term for buildings and facilities that handle road passenger transport operations and provide coach services for commuters, typically comprising a forecourt concourse, terminal building, and outdoor operational bays. Under industry standards, it is defined as "a designated facility providing passenger distribution, intermodal transfer, transport dispatching, information, and auxiliary services for public commuters and transport operators; serving as a vital node in the road passenger transport network and a public transport infrastructure". Express bus passenger terminals have long undertaken public service functions such as real-name passenger registration, security screening, and counter-terrorism measures, playing an essential role in safeguarding public travel.

2. Functional Structure and Key Facilities

The operational framework of a bus passenger terminal covers four core areas: passenger services, transport operations, safety management, and auxiliary support. Passenger services include ticketing, waiting lounges, boarding clearance, luggage handling, and information enquiries, supported by dedicated facilities such as ticketing counters, waiting halls, luggage check-in counters, enquiry desks, and left-luggage storage. Transport operations encompass fleet dispatching, terminal entry inspections, scheduling duty reports, and departure bay management. On the safety front, terminals strictly enforce the "Three Inbound Prohibitions and Six Outbound Restrictions" policy: hazardous goods, unauthorised personnel, and unauthorised vehicles are strictly barred from entering; while overloaded coaches, vehicles failing safety inspections, unqualified drivers, buses with incomplete documentation, unendorsed departure logs, and coaches with unbelted passengers are strictly prohibited from departing.

3. Classification and Grading Standards

In accordance with the JT/T 200-2020 standard "Classification and Construction Requirements for Bus Passenger Terminals", bus terminals are categorised into the following tiers based on facility specifications and daily passenger dispatch volume:

Grade	Daily Passenger Dispatch Volume	Other Conditions
Class 1 Terminal	5,000 passenger-trips and above	Or tourism stations, international stations, and terminals within integrated transport hubs handling over 2,000 passenger-trips daily
Class 2 Terminal	2,000 to below 5,000 passenger-trips	Or tourism stations, international stations, and terminals within integrated transport hubs handling 1,000 passenger-trips daily
Class 3 Terminal	300 to below 2,000 passenger-trips	—
Convenience Station	No fixed passenger volume quota	Parking-lot-based facilities handling passenger distribution and scheduled bus departures
Hail Station / Roadside Stop	—	Designated roadside pick-up and drop-off points along highways and urban roads for passenger transport vehicles

Additionally, stations handling fewer than 300 passenger-trips per day are categorised as Class 5 Terminals.

4. Background and Strategic Directions for Transformation

In recent years, shifting commuter habits, the rapid expansion of high-speed rail networks, and the rising popularity of private cars have led to a sharp drop in terminal footfall, challenging the traditional "centralised station boarding" operational model. In 2023, the Ministry of Transport alongside 10 relevant government agencies jointly issued a directive to drive terminal transformation, focusing on several key areas:

Spatial Layout Optimisation: Shifting from single central mega-hubs to multi-stop point-to-point networks by setting up designated pick-up and drop-off stops in high-traffic zones (universities, commercial centres, hospitals). These roadside stops serve as streamlined transit facilities handling an average daily volume not exceeding 300 passenger-trips, dedicated to quick passenger boarding and alighting.
Operational Footprint Rationalisation: Reconfiguring functional zones to enhance asset efficiency and reduce operating overheads.
Terminal Facility Diversification: Installing EV charging infrastructure, expanding courier and freight logistics services, and integrating public bus interchanges and shared mobility parking bays.
Tourism and Commercial Integration: Establishing tourist transit hubs, expanding direct express travel routes, and tapping into e-commerce retail and automotive aftermarket services.
Integrated Land Development: Supporting mixed-use commercial redevelopment on existing terminal land, provided territorial spatial planning guidelines are met and core transit operations remain intact.

5. Development Trends

Bus passenger terminals are evolving from standalone passenger transit points into "hub-and-spoke" integrated service centres. The development principle of "building full terminals or roadside stops where appropriate" is shaping a more flexible, networked road passenger transit ecosystem. Value-added services such as on-demand customised transport, integrated passenger-freight-postal logistics, and dedicated tourist transit hubs have emerged as key growth drivers across the industry.