Updated guidance from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) UK has been issued to coach operators suggesting that coach trips should not operate until Stage 3 of the roadmap out of lockdown, 17 May at the earliest. This directly contradicts the ruling guidance, safer transport guidance for operators, and which the industry believes governs the sector, according to the Andy Warrender of the Road Haulage Association (RHA) bus division.

“The guidance appears to have little in the way of foundation and it seems to have been arrived at in a somewhat arbitrary fashion. As coaches have never been mandated not to operate, as the customers will be permitted to travel and as destinations will be open, it seems somewhat bizarre that the guidance has developed in this way.”

The RHA is engaged with DCMS on this matter. At this stage the RHA would not advise cancelling trips due to operate between 12 April and 16 May, but we would suggest that cancellation is a risk that should be factored into any further trips being arranged during this period.