Public back coaches as vital transport mode - but 97% say politicians ignore them

December 03 2025

They deliver 450 million journeys a year in Britain and are particularly popular with young people. But coaches are universally ignored by politicians, according to a new poll.

A study commissioned by the Confederation of Passenger Transport has found that 97% of people have never heard a politician mention coach travel, despite a high level of awareness of Westminster debate around trains, cars, buses, bikes and planes.

The poll found that over the last 12 months, 61% of the public have noticed politicians talking about rail travel, 46% are aware of discussion around aviation, 40% on car travel, 32% about buses and 29% on bikes and scooters. But only 3% have ever heard a politician reference travel by coach.

There are more than 2,500 coach operators in the UK, many of which are small- or medium-sized businesses, providing a range of services including scheduled intercity travel, school transport, sightseeing tours, and rail replacement services.

The age group most likely to travel by coach are those aged 18-29, with 21% using coaches at least a few times a year, reflecting the industry’s reputation for low-cost travel.

Asked for their reasons for travelling by coach, the most popular response among coach users was ‘they’re good value for money’, followed by ‘they’re convenient and hassle-free’ and ‘they’re less tiring than driving’.

Coaches, uniquely in the public transport mix, receive no taxpayer subsidy. Yet 64% of the public agree that they are a vital part of the UK’s public transport network, with only 9% disagreeing.

The CPT, which represents the industry, last week held a Coach Conference in Solihull bringing together representatives from across the industry.

Key points of discussion included a call for all local authorities to deliver adequate pick-up and drop-off points for coaches with shelter from rain, toilets and separation from traffic. The industry has also called on the Department for Transport to deliver a roadmap for decarbonisation, including setting a timetable for transition to zero-emission vehicles and guaranteeing equitable provision of and access for coaches to zero emission charging infrastructure.