The role of coach in connecting people and places

17 June 2026  |  Guest blogger  |  Buses

The cathedral city of Ripon has a rich cultural history, full of heritage, tradition and character. As a Yorkshire resident myself, I know what its markets, museums and cathedral have to offer. But just as important, and sometimes less visible, is the work being done to make the city easier to visit.

North Yorkshire Council and Ripon’s Business Improvement District have taken a series of practical but important steps to support an often overlooked form of transport: the coach. Ripon now has clear signage, free parking for coaches, and designated spots where passengers can be dropped conveniently for the city centre.

The warm welcome for coach operators and passengers alike was recognised in April by the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT), which awarded Coach Friendly Status to the city. Ripon is the 39th destination to receive the accreditation, joining a growing number of towns, cities and venues which recognise the value coaches bring.

At the other end of the country, Victoria Coach Station on a Monday lunchtime presents a change of pace from leafy North Yorkshire. But in its own way, it tells the same story. Standing there this week at one of our Better Transport Week events with Simon Lightwood, the Minister for Roads and Buses, I witnessed the constant movement of people and coaches.

Passengers were heading to airports, cities, workplaces, colleges and family visits, all using services that sit as the quiet backbone of our transport network. Coaches provide an affordable, sustainable way to connect people and places. During the summer months, that role becomes even more evident, whether taking people to tourist destinations, major events, or for time away with friends and family.

But the value of coaches tends to be underestimated, and coach travel is still too often missing from the national conversation about transport. A poll commissioned by CPT last year found that while 61 per cent of people had noticed politicians talking about rail, 46% about planes and 32 per cent about buses, only three per cent had ever heard a politician talk about coach travel.

This is despite coaches accounting for 450 million journeys a year, equivalent to 40 per cent of all journeys by rail. They take 600,000 children to school every day, and coach tourism generates visitor spending worth £8.3 billion in local economies according to research by KPMG.

For a city like Ripon, a single coachload of passengers a day can add £1 million to the local economy over the course of a year, but these benefits are not automatic. Coach services need to be able to operate smoothly and efficiently in and out of destinations, with suitable facilities for passengers and drivers. That is why it is vital that local authorities consider coaches as part of their wider transport planning. Too often, coaches are overlooked, meaning towns, cities and visitor attractions risk missing out on the economic opportunities they can bring.

CPT has long advocated for better consideration of coaches in destinations across the UK. It was therefore a huge boost, and a genuine breakthrough, when the Government’s integrated transport strategy, Better Connected: a strategy for integrated transport, took proper account for coaches in April. Local transport authorities are now expected by government to consider coaches in their transport plans. That recognition is welcome, and the task now is to turn it into practical change locally.

We’re lucky to have a dynamic, vibrant and resilient sector made up of more than 2,500 coach operators in the UK, ranging from national companies to family-owned businesses. More towns, cities and visitor destinations are starting to recognise their value, but too many still overlook them.

Ripon shows what can be done with practical planning and a clear welcome for coach passengers. More places should follow its lead.

Graham Vidler is CEO of Confederation of Passenger Transport.