London's Victoria Coach Station to remain major coach hub

Transport for London (TfL) has confirmed London’s major hub will continue to be located at its historic home in Victoria, with plans to work with coach operators to improve customer facilities at the 87-year-old Grade-II listed station as small section of the Victoria Coach Station lease expire in the early 2020s.

These improvements could include changes to the layout of the station to make the customer experience easier, as well as renovated facilities.

Retaining a coach station in Victoria ensures that services remain well-connected to London's public transport network and keeps large coaches in a safe site that separates drop-off and pick-up from people walking and cycling around central London. It also enables people to reach the center of London without using a private car.

TfL is prioritizing sustainable operations that reduce harmful vehicle emissions, and from next year on, every coach that serves Victoria Coach Station will be required to have some of the cleanest engines available.

Helen Lee, head of coach operations at TfL, said, “Coaches play a critical role driving the economy of the capital and beyond, boosting tourism to London and providing affordable travel options with cities across the UK. Without Victoria Coach Station, coaches would still travel to the center of the city but drop off and pick up on-street. This would increase noise, congestion and pollution for people living, working and visiting central London. It would also deprive the 14 million passengers who use this affordable long-distance travel every year of vital welfare facilities and ease of access to onward connections.”

TfL is identifying sites for enhanced coach facilities across the capital to complement the facilities at Victoria Coach Station. TfL will work with industry, transport operators, London's boroughs and passenger groups to identify appropriate locations for the supporting sites over the coming months. This would help to ensure that the city continues to be adequately and safely served by coaches, providing alternative options to passengers and reducing coach movements in central London.  

Keith McNally, operations director at the Confederation of Passenger Transport, said, “This is great news for coach operators who provide affordable connectivity across the UK and Europe. As well as playing a vital role in cutting congestion and improving air quality, the station acts as a working hub for operators and as a focal point for travelers, with many using it to interchange to onward destinations. Coach operators can now make their business and investments plans with the welcome knowledge that the station will remain operational. We look forward to working with TfL to deliver real improvements for operators and passengers at the site, so that the coach network across the UK can be developed further.”

Tim Bellenger, director of policy and investigation at London TravelWatch, said, “... London TravelWatch has made representations in support of its retention via the London Plan process over many years and our view was that there simply wasn't a viable alternative location for a comparable facility. This news will be welcomed by passengers, particularly the elderly and disabled who value the easy bus-to-bus interchange.'

Coaches are an efficient, affordable and accessible means of national and international transport to and from London for 14 million passengers a year, helping to drive the city's economy and often acting as a base for tourists to explore the rest of the country.