Category: Uncategorised

As operators will be aware we have had a number of issues this week with the works at Finchley Road station impacting both the bus lane and coach stop CL. We have now had clarification from the contactor on how the works will progress:

Until Sunday 23 March 2025

• Coach stop CL will remain open, bus stop FL is closed

Monday 24 March until Thursday 17 April 2025

• Coach stop CL is closed, coaches should use bus stop FL immediate ahead
• To Note: Bus stop FK (Waitrose) is also closed so all buses and coaches will be using bus stop FL. Coaches MUST NOT wait time at stop FL and keep dwell times to an absolute minimum.

Friday 18 April until Wednesday 23 April 2025

• Coach stop CL is closed, coaches should use bus stop FL immediate ahead
• To Note the rear of stop FL will be partially suspended. . Coaches MUST NOT wait time at stop FL and keep dwell times to an absolute minimum.

From Monday 17 March until Sunday 25 May 2025 works will be taking place at Finchley Road Station northbound (between Cranfield Gardens and the O2 Centre, for UKPN works. These will have lane restrictions throughout the period with the closure of the nearside bus lane and will involve stop closures (including coach  stop CL). 

08:00 17 March until 18:00 23 April 2025

Contractor’s working on behalf of UKPN will be carrying out extensive cabling works, these works will be carried out under lane restrictions. Bus stop 16153 (FL) and Coach Stop (CL) BP4403 will be suspended while these works take place.

Special instructions for all coaches only

During these works bus stop FL is to be used for boarding and alighting until works at stop CL are finished. Coaches MUST NOT wait time at this stop and keep dwell times to an absolute minimum.

08:00 24 April until18:00 23 May 2025

works will be carried out under lane restrictions on Finchley Road and a banned left turn from Finchley Road into Blackburn Road. Bus stop16153 (FL) on Finchley Road will also be suspended.

Dear All,

 OAKLEY STREET AND OLD CHURCH STREET – BUS AND COACH BAN

The Kensington and Chelsea (Prescribed Routes) (No. 7) Traffic Order 2023

On behalf of the Council of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and in accordance with the usual consultation procedures on traffic and parking schemes, I wish to draw your attention to the made order, described more fully in the attached documents, to prohibit all buses (including coaches) from entering Oakley Street and Old Church Street (between the south-eastern kerb-line of King’s Road and the north-western kerb-line of Chelsea Embankment), excluding any part of those roads that is a red route side road. An exemption would apply to vehicles following a diversion route, and dial a ride and community transport services..

If you have any queries or wish to discuss the matter further, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Kind regards,

Paul White

Parkmap and Traffic Orders Officer

Transport and Regulatory Services
Tel:   020 7361 3399

Email:   [email protected]
37 Pembroke Road, London W8 6PW

There will be a series of temporary lane closures in place at Gallows Corner junction on the A127 Southend Arterial Road and A12 Eastern Avenue, approaching and leaving the roundabout. This will reduce the road from two lanes to one.

During this period all routes will remain open, including the Gallows Corner flyover, and temporary footway diversions will be in place.

Approach roads and local roads will be very busy during the works. Significant queues and delays are expected. Journeys made before 07:30 and after 19:00 may experience less disruption.

This is the first step of works to renew and strengthen the ageing Gallows Corner flyover so the major structure can continue to serve Londoners reliably.

From mid-June until September, Gallows Corner Junction – both roundabout and flyover – will be closed to all traffic except emergency vehicles and buses for flyover replacement works. There will be local diversion routes for traffic and temporary walking route diversions in place.

Lambeth Bridge eastbound directional closure (Westminster to Lambeth) from 10 February to 19 December 2025.

TKJV, working on behalf of TFL will be carrying out public realm improvement works on Lambeth Bridge. Works will necessitate the part closure of Lambeth Bridge.

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

Last night, 16th December 2024, UKCOA Managing Director, Peter Bradley had the privilege of speaking at the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Bus and Coach.  This Group brings together parliamentarians and Industry stakeholders to discuss key issues, drive initiatives and champion the growth and survival of our sector.

We are proud to play an active role in shaping the future of our industry and ensuring that coaches remain a vital part of the UK’s transport network.

(L-R) APPG Co-Chair Lord Peter Snape, Peter Bradley, Claire Walters – Bus Users UK Chief Executive and Louise Cheeseman – Chair of Women in Bus and Coach.