What's New

An independent expert committee, established by the Transport Act 1985, has warned the “for-hire" coach sector that it is out of step with the rest of the transport industry in its reluctance to meet the needs of disabled passengers.

In 2020, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) issued exemptions to help transport operators keep their vehicles on the road and to help Authorised Testing Facilities (ATFs) manage the number of vehicles and trailers coming in for test.

Under changes announced by Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock, all arrivals at English ports from 15 February will be required to undertake two mandatory Covid-19 tests — on the second and eighth day of their 10-day quarantine.

We reported in April 2020 that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) had confirmed that the Government was postponing the introduction of all Clean Air Zones (CAZs) until 2021 (see Clean Air Zone postponement welcomed by transport operators).

The main bus network in London now exclusively uses Euro VI or cleaner buses, the emissions standard required by the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ).

Taxi and private hire vehicle drivers in Wales will be able to claim a free pack of high quality personal protective equipment (PPE) and vehicle cleaning materials, funded by the Welsh Government.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has announced a drive to increase workplace testing in sectors open during lockdown in order to detect coronavirus in people who are not showing symptoms.

On 1 February 2021, a change in legislation came into force which means that tyres aged over 10 years are banned on the front steered axles of lorries, buses and coaches together with all single wheels of minibuses (with between nine and 16 passenger seats).

The Lower Thames Crossing will almost double road capacity between Kent and Essex, ease congestion across the region and each year divert over 13 million vehicles away from the Dartford Crossing, currently the only river crossing east of London.

The Coach Tourism Association (CTA) and the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CTP UK) are among tourism and events groups expressing disbelief that the Government is still disregarding the sectors for access to the latest Covid-19 support.