Flexible transport systems (FTS) can offer an alternative to fixed route fixed schedule bus services in
situations of low and dispersed demand. Although it is widely recognised that these on-demand services
provide a better level of service to passengers at a lower operating cost than the infrequent fixed route
services which they often replace, they still require significant financial support to cover their costs. As
local authority budgets to support public transport continue to be reduced the sustainability of these
services is being brought into sharper focus. In this paper we compare and contrast the development of
FTS in UK, Japan and India. In particular we examine the extent to which new technologies are being used
to contribute to a reduction in operating costs in the UK and Japan and whether these developments
point to a future model for sustainable flexible service provision in developing countries, using India as
an example.