Author: Margaret

Two week closure of the VCS Arrivals Terminal from the normal closing time on 19 January to normal reopening time on 8 February 2025.

Orchard Street lane restrictions and stop closure overnight (19:00 to 05:00) on the night of 29 January 2025

Twenty Twelve Civils Ltd will be carrying out urban realm works at the above location. Traffic management will consist of a lane restriction.

To facilitate these work bus stop 449 BA will be suspended and passengers directed to previous and next stops.

:Overnight (20:00 to 06:30) lane restrictions and stop closures on Baker Street (north of Marylebone Road) on the night of 14 January 2025:

Coaches that normally alight at stop A should use the following alternatives:

• LB: Park Road southbound, prior to the junction with Gloucester Place
• Z: Marylebone Road westbound after the junction with Baker Street

Below are planned closure dates of the Piccadilly underpass in 2025

Programme:

• Westbound Closure: 13 January to 14 March
• Eastbound Closure: 14 March to 16 May
• Full Closure: 16 May to 18 July

Essential maintenance works will take place between 22:00 and 05:00 each night on the A20 involving repairs to the road, barriers and road studs, as well as gully cleaning, lighting maintenance and other works identified by our safety inspections.

The works will take place in phases on the following dates:

• Monday 13 to Thursday 16 January: M25 Junction 3 to Frognal Corner roundabout (London-bound)
• Thursday 16 to Saturday 18, and Monday 20 to Tuesday 21 January: Frognal Corner roundabout to Clifton’s roundabout (London-bound)
• Tuesday 21 to Friday 24 January: Clifton’s roundabout to Frognal Corner roundabout (Kent-bound)
• Friday 24 to Saturday 25 and Monday 27 to Wednesday 29 January: Frognal Corner roundabout to M25 Junction 3

During the works there will be restricted access to residents on the A20 and Sidcup Road. In some phases of work there will be no access to the A20 on certain roads. Signed diversions will be in place.

Nights of 12 & 13 January 2025 – closed between Piccadilly Circus and St James Street

Night of 14 January – closed between Hyde Park Corner and St James Street

due to commence on 7th  January to 2 February 2025

Due to major works by Cadent Gas Lower Sloane Street will be closed northbound only between Sloane Gardens and Sloane Square.

The Somerset House coach bays (set down and pick up only) will be closed on the following days (inclusive):

• 30 January 2025
• 10 to 16 February 2025
• 20 to 24 February 2025

This is to facilitate events in Somerset House.

Alternative pick up and set down only facilities are available at:

• Embankment Station stops 40B, 40C & 40D
• Temple Station stop N (eastbound) & W (westbound)

Coaches unloading passengers in the northbound coach parking on Park Lane.

Please can we remind operators that aside from the two coach bays to the rear of Apsley House no boarding or alighting is permitted in the northbound coach parking due to the proximity of the cycle lane. Additionally all northbound stops have a local buses only restriction. Set down and pick up only (no parking or waiting) is permitted on the southbound carriageway at bus stops and a dedicated facility next to the Dorchester hotel.

Thank you

The Department for Transport have yesterday issued an important update to the upcoming requirements for Smart Tachograph 2 installation and driver’s hours records for PSV’s when conducting journeys into the EU.

From 31 December 2024, new requirements will come into effect for some commercial international transport journeys involving PSV’s with more than 10 seats. These updates apply to operators conducting journeys between the UK and EU and form part of the UK’s international agreements under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) and the Interbus Agreement. 

Key Points to Note

1. Scope of Changes
   • The changes apply only to PSVs operating international transport journeys between the UK and EU.
   • Vehicles used solely within the UK remain unaffected and must continue to follow the UK’s assimilated drivers’ hours and tachograph rules.

1. AETR Rules for International Journeys
   • In-scope PSVs on UK-EU journeys must comply with the AETR drivers’ hours and tachograph rules.
   • The AETR rules largely align with the UK’s assimilated rules but with some differences such as:
     • No Mobility Package Changes: Unlike the assimilated rules, the AETR does not include updates introduced by the EU Mobility Package in August 2020.
     • Recording Period: The AETR continues to require a 28-day recording period for drivers’ records. The 56-day requirement under the EU Mobility Package does not apply.

1. Understanding the TCA and Interbus Agreement
   • The TCA does not include detailed rules for passenger transport drivers’ hours and tachographs. Instead, it refers to the Interbus Agreement, which requires compliance with the AETR or specific EU rules.
   • The UK has confirmed that operators must follow the AETR rules for international journeys. To align with this:
     • Domestic journeys will continue to follow the UK’s assimilated rules.
     • International journeys between the UK and EU will follow the AETR rules.
   • This approach has been agreed upon with the European Commission.

1. Smart Tachographs
   • PSVs equipped with Smart Tachograph 1 or 2 systems remain compliant with AETR requirements. These devices meet the standards for digital tachographs and include additional functionalities.
   • The Department for Transport (DfT) is reviewing the current requirement for UK-registered vehicles with analogue or digital tachographs to retrofit a Smart Tachograph 2 by 31 December 2024. Enforcement of this requirement is on hold pending further updates.

1. Domestic Transport Rules Unchanged
   • PSVs operating solely on domestic UK journeys must continue to comply with the UK’s assimilated drivers’ hours rules. There are no changes to these rules or their enforcement.

Guidance and Support

Operators are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the AETR rules and ensure compliance for international journeys. Guidance on drivers’ hours and tachograph rules is available at Drivers’ hours: Overview – GOV.UK.

The UKCOA will provide updates on any further changes as they occur

Stephen Spendley- Director of Operations- UK Coach Operators Association – 07990 049832