Last year, two thirds of all public transport journeys in Britain were made by coach and bus last year. That was a statistic Seceratry of State for Transport, Chris Graying, gave at the Confederation of Passenger Transport’s (CPT) Annual Dinner.
Mr Grayling attended the event, held at Royal Lancaster London on 31 January, as Guest of Honour and gave the keynote speech.
In his speech, he praises buses as “the backbone of our transport system,” and notes the efforts being taken to minimise disruption to coach travel to Continental Europe after Brexit.
“Ultimately, for passenger transport, we would like a liberalised arrangement which enables services to run just as they are today,” he says.
“That’s why we’re seeking to avoid any extra burdens or restrictions, which would not be in the interests of the UK, nor, we believe, the interests of the EU.”
The Department for Transport (DfT) has been taking steps to prepare for all eventualities, he says. And as such, has now deposited its instrument of accession with the Interbus Secretariat.
“This means in the event of a no-deal, the UK will join the Interbus Agreement as an independent member,” Mr Grayling adds.
“While a no-deal scenario remains unlikely, these steps have been taken to provide legal certainty; first to businesses which operate international ‘occasional’ services between the UK and signatories to the Interbus Agreement – including EU countries – and second, to provide certainty to passengers using these services if no deal can be reached.”
