Coaches: ‘Avoid central London during mourning period’

Transport for London (TfL) has advised that coaches carrying groups to view Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II lying in state in Westminster from Wednesday 14 September, and for her state funeral on Monday 19 September, should avoid entering central London entirely.

Trade bodies representing the industry continue to meet daily with TfL to discuss coach access during the period of national mourning, Confederation of Passenger Transport Coaching Manager Phil Smith has told routeone, and further information continues to emerge. 

Four such associations began working together soon after the death of the Queen. They quickly advised that those coach bays that are present within the central area may be taken out of use for other purposes, potentially at short notice. 

Mr Smith says that TfL’s advice to coach operators is that groups should be set down and picked up at London Underground stations outside the centre. TfL has noted separately that overcrowding of the tube network could lead to station closures around Westminster, but travel by rail and walking “will be the best way to get round central London.” 

A recommendation that coaches do not enter the centre of the capital is based on planned road closures, which Mr Smith says will be particularly intense on 19 September. Parking for coaches will be available at the Abellio London bus depot in Battersea, the O2 arena and Wembley Stadium. 

Victoria coach station will be out of use on 19 September, with National Express advising that its services will (with a handful of exceptions) terminate at and start from Wembley Stadium. Megabus routes will operate no closer to central London than Hillingdon.