Author: Margaret

250312 Letter updating members regarding Regular and Special Regular Protocol (UKCOA)

Dear Member,

UK-based coach operators running international services will see changes come into effect from 1 April 2025 as the Regular and Special Regular (RSR) Protocol replaces existing arrangements under the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA).  These updates primarily impact timetabled coach services and those carrying specific groups, such as school transport.

The RSR Protocol largely replicates the temporary TCA provisions, ensuring continued access for UK operators to the EU and beyond.  From April, UK operators will be able to run authorised RSR services to countries such as Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Moldova, and Ukraine, in addition to EU member states.  While this transition is expected to be smooth, operators should be aware of the revised authorisation process through the DVSA (for GB-based operators) and the DVA (for Northern Ireland operators).

For services between Northern Ireland and Ireland, specific provisions will remain under the TCA. These include allowances for cabotage within Ireland for RSR services, transit rights for journeys passing through Ireland to reach Northern Ireland, and occasional services picking up and setting down passengers in Ireland.

Cabotage rules are also changing.  From 1 April, EU operators will no longer be allowed to conduct cabotage operations in the UK.  Similarly, UK operators remain restricted from undertaking cabotage in the EU, meaning services must start or end in the UK.

For operators running occasional services, no changes are expected, and existing requirements for Interbus Journey Forms or TCA Transit Forms will continue. However, non-liberalised occasional services (those not covered by Interbus or the TCA) will still require separate authorisation through the DVSA.

The DfT has confirmed that existing RSR authorisations issued under the TCA will remain valid for their approved duration.

Full details of the changes are attached in the notification sent to the UKCOA by DfT.

M4 Prince of Wales Bridge

We’re carrying out resurfacing and repairs on the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge from summer 2024 to autumn 2025. For more information, please visit our dedicated webpage.

If we’re planning to close either of the bridges in the next seven days, you’ll find further details below. For other closures on the network, including the approaches to the bridges, please visit our daily closures page. 

(taken from the National Highways website)

Scheduled maintenance

Like any major structure, the bridges need frequent maintenance to keep them in a safe and serviceable condition. Sometimes we need to close a bridge to keep road users and our team safe while we work.

The road surface on the M48 Severn Bridge is much narrower than a typical motorway, so there is less space for us to carry out maintenance. This means that we need to close the Severn Bridge more often than most other motorways.

We understand that these closures cause disruption to road users and local communities, and we’re striving to keep the bridges open as often as we can.

Our work isn’t always visible. We may be carrying out repairs underneath the road surface, or waiting for construction materials to dry or set before continuing our work.

(taken from the National Highways Website)

The A12 will have closures and lane restrictions between 22:00 and 06:00 on the following dates while works are carried out to improve step-free access at Leyton station.

From Monday 31 March until Wednesday 2 April, the A12 will be closed westbound between the Green Man interchange roundabout and Eastway junction.

From Wednesday 2 until Sunday 6 April, the A12 will be restricted to one lane westbound for 1km west of the Green Man interchange roundabout.

(taken from the TfL Website)

As operators will be aware we have had a number of issues this week with the works at Finchley Road station impacting both the bus lane and coach stop CL. We have now had clarification from the contactor on how the works will progress:

Until Sunday 23 March 2025

• Coach stop CL will remain open, bus stop FL is closed

Monday 24 March until Thursday 17 April 2025

• Coach stop CL is closed, coaches should use bus stop FL immediate ahead
• To Note: Bus stop FK (Waitrose) is also closed so all buses and coaches will be using bus stop FL. Coaches MUST NOT wait time at stop FL and keep dwell times to an absolute minimum.

Friday 18 April until Wednesday 23 April 2025

• Coach stop CL is closed, coaches should use bus stop FL immediate ahead
• To Note the rear of stop FL will be partially suspended. . Coaches MUST NOT wait time at stop FL and keep dwell times to an absolute minimum.

From Monday 17 March until Sunday 25 May 2025 works will be taking place at Finchley Road Station northbound (between Cranfield Gardens and the O2 Centre, for UKPN works. These will have lane restrictions throughout the period with the closure of the nearside bus lane and will involve stop closures (including coach  stop CL). 

08:00 17 March until 18:00 23 April 2025

Contractor’s working on behalf of UKPN will be carrying out extensive cabling works, these works will be carried out under lane restrictions. Bus stop 16153 (FL) and Coach Stop (CL) BP4403 will be suspended while these works take place.

Special instructions for all coaches only

During these works bus stop FL is to be used for boarding and alighting until works at stop CL are finished. Coaches MUST NOT wait time at this stop and keep dwell times to an absolute minimum.

08:00 24 April until18:00 23 May 2025

works will be carried out under lane restrictions on Finchley Road and a banned left turn from Finchley Road into Blackburn Road. Bus stop16153 (FL) on Finchley Road will also be suspended.

This is a reminder to all operators that the bus stand on Elizabeth Bridge is only to be used by the following services only:

• National Express: Luton Airport services
• National Express: Stansted Airport services

Other operators will be told to move on. This instruction can come from either National Express staff managing the services detailed above or TfL Officials.

Dear All,

 OAKLEY STREET AND OLD CHURCH STREET – BUS AND COACH BAN

The Kensington and Chelsea (Prescribed Routes) (No. 7) Traffic Order 2023

On behalf of the Council of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and in accordance with the usual consultation procedures on traffic and parking schemes, I wish to draw your attention to the made order, described more fully in the attached documents, to prohibit all buses (including coaches) from entering Oakley Street and Old Church Street (between the south-eastern kerb-line of King’s Road and the north-western kerb-line of Chelsea Embankment), excluding any part of those roads that is a red route side road. An exemption would apply to vehicles following a diversion route, and dial a ride and community transport services..

If you have any queries or wish to discuss the matter further, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Kind regards,

Paul White

Parkmap and Traffic Orders Officer

Transport and Regulatory Services
Tel:   020 7361 3399

Email:   [email protected]
37 Pembroke Road, London W8 6PW

Safety works being carried out in the departures terminal. From Monday 3rd March safety works taking place on the vehicle movement area within the VCS Departures Terminal. There will be reductions in operational footprint.

No short notice ad-hoc parking will be permitted.
Any breakdowns must be dealt with swiftly – to avoid impacting the operation of the station.
Drivers “must” obey any instructions from TfL officials at VCS and local area.
ALL ROAD RESTRICTONS – BANNED TURNS – COACH BANS ETC., REMAIN IN PLACE