By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.
Accept
routeonerouteonerouteone
  • News
    • Show all
    • Awards & Events
    • Deliveries
    • Environment
    • Exhibitor News
    • Euro Bus Expo 2024
    • Features
    • Legal
    • Minibus and minicoach
    • Operators
    • Opinion
    • People
    • Suppliers
    • Vehicles
  • Vehicles
    • Find a Vehicle
    • ZEV Comparison Tool
    • Sell a Vehicle
    • Vehicle Seller Dashboard
  • Insights
  • Careers
  • Events
    • British Tourism & Travel Show
    • Euro Bus Expo
    • Innovation Challenge
    • Livery Competition
    • routeone Awards
  • Advertise
  • Contact
    • Share your news
    • Subscribe
    • Update Subscription Details
  • Latest Issue
  • SIGN UP
Search
© 2024 routeone News. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Ensure your business is ready for next coach PSVAR requirements
Share
Font ResizerAa
routeonerouteone
Font ResizerAa
Search
  • News
    • Show all
    • Awards & Events
    • Deliveries
    • Environment
    • Exhibitor News
    • Euro Bus Expo 2024
    • Features
    • Legal
    • Minibus and minicoach
    • Operators
    • Opinion
    • People
    • Suppliers
    • Vehicles
  • Vehicles
    • Find a Vehicle
    • ZEV Comparison Tool
    • Sell a Vehicle
    • Vehicle Seller Dashboard
  • Insights
  • Careers
  • Events
    • British Tourism & Travel Show
    • Euro Bus Expo
    • Innovation Challenge
    • Livery Competition
    • routeone Awards
  • Advertise
  • Contact
    • Share your news
    • Subscribe
    • Update Subscription Details
  • Latest Issue
  • SIGN UP
Follow US
© 2024 routeone News | Powered by Diversified Business Communications UK Ltd
- Advertisement -
-
routeone > Opinion > Ensure your business is ready for next coach PSVAR requirements
Opinion

Ensure your business is ready for next coach PSVAR requirements

This year sees the final set of exemptions for compliance on home-to-school and rail replacement duties

routeone Team
routeone Team
Published: February 17, 2025
Share
PSVAR compliance on in-scope coach services
SHARE

I am shocked that it has been almost three years since the Department for Transport (DfT) launched the set of medium-term exemptions from PSVAR for rail replacement (RR) and home-to-school (H2S) services provided by coaches on 13 April 2022. At the time, you could apply for an exemption (called special authorisations) which are valid until 31 July 2026.

Under those exemptions, vehicles covered by a special authorisation were exempt from PSVAR until 31 July 2023 and then had to meet specified levels of compliance depending on the size of the RR and H2S fleet, increasing incrementally over a three-year period, with full compliance in August 2026.

These medium-term exemptions introduced the concept of partial compliance, where vehicles met all requirements for PSVAR, but were exempt from complying with those for wheelchair lifts and destination equipment.

Next year will be 2026, while the final set of those incremental stages of compliance with PSVAR come into force in less than six months’ time, on 1 August 2025. They are as follows:

  •  Band A (between one and five vehicles): At least one fully compliant vehicle, with the rest of the fleet partially compliant
  •  Band B (between six and nine vehicles): At least two fully compliant vehicles, with the rest of the fleet partially compliant
  •  Band C (between 10 and 29 vehicles): At least 25% of the fleet fully compliant, with the rest of the fleet partially compliant
  •  Band D (30 vehicles or more): At least 35% of the fleet fully compliant, with the rest of the fleet partially compliant.

This is significant because, for the first time, all operators that run any RR or H2S services that are covered by the Regulations are required to have at least one fully compliant PSVAR vehicle. In addition, those in Band C and Band D require significantly more fully compliant vehicles than previously.

Having spoken to several coach operators about these latest compliance levels there are two points I want to make clear:

  • They come into force from 1 August 2025, not 2026. 1 August 2026 is currently the date where all coaches on RR and H2S need to be fully compliant
  • You need to understand where you are going to source your fully compliant vehicles for the 2025 incremental increase now, not in a few months’ time.

I can predict that sourcing fully compliant PSVAR vehicles of a reasonable quality will become increasingly more challenging and expensive as the year progresses. Don’t leave it too late.

So, what of the future?

The PSVAR call for evidence closed in September 2023 and not much has been said since. I know that many operators were hopeful that there might be a delay to the implementation of the 2025 proposed level of compliance, but I think at this stage that is unlikely, and I would not recommend planning for it.

However, there is much concern about the 1 August 2026 date, when currently all coaches on RR and H2S services covered by the Regulations need to be fully compliant. Those of us in the industry appreciate that this is unachievable, as there will not be enough fully compliant vehicles available.

We also know that some of the early PSVAR retrofit vehicles are now experiencing problems with leaks and equipment malfunctioning.

The UK Coach Operators Association has continued to engage with the relevant officials within DfT on PSVAR. We have made the point that the industry needs some notice as to what will happen next, and that the supply of vehicles (both new and second hand) is limited.

I hope we have some news soon.

TAGGED:PSVAR
Share This Article
Facebook LinkedIn Threads Email Copy Link
Previous Article Mercedes-Benz eCitaro buses at Bristol Airport Bristol Airport eCitaro pair indicate model’s growing buyer interest
Next Article The Schneider-Stagecoach approach to bus fleet electrification
- Advertisement -

Latest News

Temsa HD12 and HD13 delivered to Cresta Coaches under Asset Alliance rental deal
Temsa pair join Cresta Coaches on Asset Alliance rental agreement
Deliveries
Go-Ahead London – Managing Director
Careers Jobs
andy burnham tfgm £15.6 billion (1) The funding announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves today (4 June) has been allocated to several combined mayoral authorities to use on rail, tram, road and bus infrastructure. Transport for Greater Manchester revealed today that part of the £2.5 billion it will receive will go towards making the Bee Network fully battery-electric by 2030. An as-yet undecided portion of that will support a planned investment in 1,000 new zero-emission buses over that period, the mayoral authority said. That is part of plans to build the UK's "first fully integrated, zero-emission public transport system", with trams and trains also set to benefit. Liverpool City Region's already announced BRT system is among the projects to which its £1.6 billion will be allocated. Under those plans - due for realisation by 2028 - a high-speed network will be served by articulated buses which are modelled on the 'Glider' in Belfast. It is due to link Liverpool city centre with John Lennon Airport, and Liverpool FC and Everton FC's respective stadia along three routes. Although the model of bus has not been confirmed, a Van Hool Exqui.City on loan from Belfast was last year used as a demonstrator. That 18m vehicle can accommodate around 30% more passengers than a typical bus and has three sets of double doors. The funding will also go towards buses elsewhere in the city as the region heads towards franchising services by 2027. Liverpool Mayor Steve Rotheram with a 'Glider' which was on loan from Belfast last year - an example of the sort of bus which could serve the new BRT Bus services in the East Midlands region will be boosted by the funding, thanks to the £2 billion handed to it today by the government. Some of that allocation will be used for a rapid transit network on the Trent Arc between Nottingham and Derby. Between the two cities, the Freeport, Infinity Park Investment Zone and Ratcliffe-on-Soar will also benefit from the improved bus services. South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority's newly announced commitment towards bus franchising has been boosted by £350 million in funding as part of that region's allocation. The funding for West Yorkshire will help build new bus stations in Bradford and Wakefield. Likewise, the Tees Valley Mayoral Authority will put its sum towards a new £15 million bus station in Middlesbrough. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander says: "Today marks a watershed moment on our journey to improving transport across the North and Midlands – opening up access to jobs, growing the economy and driving up quality of life as we deliver our Plan for Change. "For too long, people in the North and Midlands have been locked out of the investment they deserve. With £15.6bn of government investment, we’re giving local leaders the means to drive cities, towns and communities forward, investing in Britain’s renewal so you and your family are better off."
TfGM’s all-electric bus plan boosted by new £15.6 billion package
News
Local Transport Minister opens First Bus electric depot in Hengrove
Local Transport Minister opens First Bus electric depot in Hengrove
Bus
- Advertisement -
-

routeone magazine is the indispensable resource for professional UK coach, bus and minibus operators. The home of vehicle sales and the latest bus and coach job vacancies, routeone connects professional PCV operators with complete and unrivalled news coverage.

  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • GDPR Policy
  • Sustainability
  • Advertise
  • Latest Issue
  • Share Your News
routeonerouteone
Follow US
© 2024 routeone News | Powered by Diversified Business Communications UK Ltd