Richard Bamber of Anthony’s Travel has pushed for greater understanding of the coach industry at a meeting with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRA) Transport Team.

Richard was joined by RHA Public Affairs Manager, Ashton Cull, for the meeting, where the Combined Authority’s upcoming transport plans and how they would affect the local haulage and coach industry were discussed. Richard mentioned how the coach industry is misunderstood at different levels of the Government, saying how the industry’s needs and requirements are assumed to be the same as buses, despite their different roles.

Hydrogen for coaches too?

Ashton emphasised that RHA members are not ignorant to their responsibilities in greener engine technologies and are not afraid to invest in new technology. However, he stressed they need regulatory certainty from government in order to lower the significant risk that stranded assets pose.

There was discussion on the role of HVO (hydro-treated vegetable oil) fuel as an interim step on the way to net zero, Liverpool’s aspirations to become a Hydrogen Centre of Excellence through their use of hydrogen fuelled buses, supported by a hydrogen distribution network that would also be of use to the coach and lorry industry.

The lack of safe and secure facilities and the importance of these being properly included in any future transport planning was also mentioned. LCRCA were keen to work with Richard Bamber on specific local issues.