TfL confirms historic site will continue and be renovated, and coach parking elsewhere will be improved
Victoria Coach Station is to remain where it is, Transport for London (TfL) has confirmed, ending long-running uncertainty over the future and location of London’s main coach hub.
TfL also plans to improve its customer facilities, and will work with coach operators to do so, it says.
The Grade II-listed Art Deco station, built in 1932 by a consortium of coach operators, will see renovations and possible changes to its layout in the early 2020s, as sections of its lease expire.
TfL priorities
TfL says it is “prioritising sustainable operations that reduce harmful vehicle emissions”, and retaining a coach station in Victoria minimises on-street pick-ups and drop-offs, plus enables people to reach the centre of London without using a private car.
Helen Lee, Head of Coach Operations at TfL, says: “Without Victoria Coach Station, coaches would still travel to the centre 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.”
Across London
TfL says it is also identifying sites for enhanced coach facilities across the capital, to complement Victoria Coach Station. It will work with the industry to identify appropriate locations for the supporting sites over the coming months.
Keith McNally, Operations Director at the Confederation of Passenger Transport, says: “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 travellers, 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.”
