Uncertainty around the application of PSVAR to coaches casts a shadow over the industry as it attempts to recover from a year with little or no revenue, trade association RHA Chief Executive Richard Burnett has told Under-Secretary of State for Transport Baroness Vere and Department for Transport officials.
That is despite a sense of optimism over coaches returning to the road for leisure-related activities as restrictions in England, Scotland and Wales have eased, RHA says. Mr Burnett advised Lady Vere that customer confidence has returned more strongly than anticipated. RHA is thus “hopeful about the outcome of the review on social distancing [that] could see even more passengers travelling on our coaches,” it adds.
However, an ongoing lack of clarity about exemptions “hasn’t gone away,” RHA continues. The current exemption for all closed-door home-to-school services expires on 31 July and that for rail replacement runs until 30 September.
When both exemptions were issued by Transport Minister Chris Heaton-Harris MP they were each accompanied by a strongly worded letter making it clear that the government expects a route to ultimate compliance in both segments.
RHA says that PSVAR is “arguably the biggest challenge facing the sector.” Mr Burnett told Lady Vere that coach operators will struggle to meet the demand for PSVAR-compliant coaches when those exemptions expire. RHA notes that “little has changed” since they were granted by Mr Heaton-Harris.
The government has committed to reviewing PSVAR as part of the National Bus Strategy for England, but it may be as late as the end of 2023 when that work is completed.
