Regardless of whether you have ever faced a finger-wagging Traffic Commissioner, you should be wary of wholesale changes in the enforcement system. The government consultation currently running seeks to redefine the role of Traffic Commissioners, and it has to be said that the system is a little archaic in its concept. While there have been […]
While the announcement of the derogation until March 2022 for PSVAR application to school services is welcome, it is merely delaying an empty gesture to inclusivity. The Minister, Baroness Vere, is very sadly mistaken if she believes that adding the burden of £30,000 in cost to coaches will guarantee inclusivity. In her letter (https://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/further-psvar-derogations-announced/), she […]
Our coverage of the Transport Select Committee evidence session raises some serious questions about the intention or the competence of government to aid our sector. The evidence was presented very well, with all three operators – Mick Pearson, Candice Mason and Nigel Skill – setting out their case, the Chairman, Huw Merriman MP, and his […]
It is very gratifying to see that Parliament – or at least, some parts of it – have woken up to the extreme distress faced by the coach industry. It does seem astonishing that virtually a full year had to pass, after campaigning which started with Honk for Hope blaring horns in major cities, before […]
When considering the recent developments of the growing number of trade bodies putting forward their case for representing the best interests of our coach sector I wonder why and how this situation has arisen. I guess born out of frustration, boredom and maybe impatience, the desire to make things happen can draw people to […]
Last Wednesday’s briefing with project leaders from Bus Open Data Service was only inches short of a car crash. We have covered this here and here. In my conversations with CPT members and staff, I am aware that, although the CPT was caught out by the sudden inclusion of registered home-to-school services in BODS – […]
Coach tour and day trip organisers really should be going the extra mile right now to get the best experience for their group, to help attractions and to make more profit. Reading my colleague’s coverage of the Coach Tourism Association webinar – and very good it was too – I see that one operator felt […]
The first day of lockdown on 23 March seems like yesterday; the day we all realised that almost all coach and bus business had gone and, due to the relationship of infectious diseases with groups of people, was unlikely to return for quite some time. We’ve all been in a state of suspended animation since […]