All arrivals to Scotland from outside the Common Travel Area must book and pay for managed isolation in quarantine hotels to help protect against the importation of Coronavirus (COVID-19) from Monday (15 February).
Six hotels close to Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow airports with a combined capacity of 1,300 rooms will be used to implement the quarantine at a cost of £1,750 per individual traveller. Final costs for those not travelling alone are currently being worked through, as well as the details for a Managed Isolation Welfare Fund which will be launched for those who cannot afford the charge.
All arrivals must quarantine for at least ten days and will be tested twice for the virus – once on day two and once on day eight after arrival.
Existing travel exemptions will be strengthened, including limiting overseas training for elite sportspeople to athletes and coaches preparing for the Olympics and Paralympics.
A small number of arrivals will not be required to isolate, such as those involved in essential supply chains for goods coming into Scotland.
The Scottish Government will continue to engage with airports and discussions to secure a four nations approach to contracting the security, transport and accommodation services required are already under way.
As regulations to support the introduction of managed isolation are developed a range of offences and penalties to help ensure compliance will be considered.
It is still the case that all non-essential international travel is not permitted.
In a statement to Parliament the Transport Secretary urged the UK Government to match the comprehensive approach being taken by the Scottish Government.
Transport Secretary Michael Matheson said: “To manage the risk of importing new variants, and to give vaccine deployment the best chance of bringing us closer to normality here in Scotland, we have to place further limits on international travel.
“The UK Government has only committed to adopting this for travellers returning from “red list” countries. However, we know that is not sufficient and we will go further.
“The clinical advice is clear that a comprehensive system of managed quarantine is essential to minimise the impact of new COVID-19 variants.”
Some Lastminute.com customers still haven’t received all their money back for cancelled holidays, despite the online travel agent committing to the regulator that all refunds would be paid by the end of January, Which? has revealed.
After months of breaking the law on holiday refunds, Lastminute.com was investigated by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in December and it agreed to pay all outstanding package holiday refunds that were cancelled on or before 2 December by the end of January 2021.
Despite this, Which? has seen reports from several customers through social media who still hadn’t received a full refund after the deadline had passed.
At the time of the CMA’s intervention, the UK’s seventh largest travel agent owed more than £7 million in refunds for holidays cancelled on or before 2 December. Although it seems to be paying back customers for the hotel portion of their trips, Which? found evidence that it had not returned the cost of cancelled flights to some of its customers by the deadline.
Some online travel agents have reported difficulties in securing refunds from airlines to pass on to their customers, meaning many people have reported only receiving partial refunds for their cancelled package holidays.
However, under the Package Travel and Linked Travel Regulations 2018, if a package holiday is cancelled by the provider, the customer is legally entitled to a full refund within 14 days. A package holiday is a combination of at least two types of travel or travel-related services made through the same source in a single booking, most commonly flights and accommodation.
The commitment made by Lastminute.com to the CMA was to refund all money to customers for both accommodation and flights.
Sheryl McLeod, one of the customers Which? heard from, told the consumer champion she booked a holiday for two adults and two children to Barcelona for July 2020 through Lastminute.com.
She told Which? that in June an agent from Lastminute.com advised her the flights and hotel were cancelled and there were no alternatives, so the trip would be cancelled and refunded.
Sheryl then heard nothing for months and struggled to speak to someone at Lastminute.com. In September she was told by email that her refund was ready and she accepted the option of a cash refund. For months afterwards Lastminute.com claimed it was finalising her refund. Then, on 27th January, she was sent £932.49 – more than £300 short of the £1274.68 she was owed in total.
Sheryl tried to chase up this discrepancy over the phone, but she was met with an automated message to log into Lastminute.com to access her booking. When she accessed her account online, the trip was listed under ‘past bookings’, with no mention of the missing money, or anything to help her apply for it.
Claire Barder is another Lastminute.com customer who told Which? she hadn’t received a full refund for her cancelled holiday before the CMA’s deadline.
Despite receiving confirmation of a refund for her cancelled package holiday to Barcelona, which was meant to take place in July 2020, Claire was only given a refund of £431.75 – nearly £600 short as it did not include the flight portion of the trip.
Claire was told in an email that her total refund was worth £1,010.23. However Lastminute.com told her that because of Ryanair’s policy, she would need to fill out a form on the airline’s website to apply for this refund, despite Lastminute.com committing to the CMA that it would be responsible for refunding the total cost of the cancelled holiday.
Only after Which? approached Lastminute.com were both customers told they would receive their money back for the outstanding portions of their refunds.
Which? has shared its findings with the CMA, and is calling for it to take appropriate enforcement action against the online travel agent.
Rory Boland, Editor of Which? Travel, said:“Despite being given ample time to return all outstanding refunds to customers – as well as clear instructions regarding its liability for refunding both accommodation and flight costs – Lastminute.com has failed to meet this commitment to the regulator.
“This is perhaps unsurprising to its customers, given it was voted the UK’s worst accommodation booking site in our latest survey, faring little better when it was ranked for flight bookings.
“The CMA was right to intervene to demand action from the online travel agent, but after failing some of its customers once again, tougher measures need to be taken. The CMA should uncover how many customers were not refunded in time and take appropriate action against Lastminute.com, sending a clear message that this kind of behaviour is unacceptable.”
A spokesperson for Lastminute.com responded: “Firstly we’d like to start by saying that the refund process has been a very complex and difficult process due to the length and severity of the ongoing pandemic and frequent changes in the travel advice rules.These conditions not only impact us but the entire travel industry.
“Throughout this very challenging year, our customers have remained our number one priority, and we at lastminute.com continue our commitment to dedicating our resources to helping them with their requests, whether it’s involuntary or voluntary cancellations, re-booking to new destinations or booking new holidays.
“Each customer request is unique, and often requiring a human touch-point and we’ve been working hard to get the money processed back through the system and into our customer’s pockets as quickly as possible. In the cases you have highlighted, we can confirm that the refund has been sent to the customers also for the flight.”
“We confirm our full commitment and dedication during the last months in order to refund and support all our customers and meet the deadlines agreed with the Competition and Markets Authority. We will discuss our obligations on the 10th of February directly with the Competition and Markets Authority as agreed with them.
“Customer satisfaction is our number one priority and we keep listening and learning even from the feedback generated by a very small number of readers involved in the Which? survey. Every comment counts. We have already refunded more than 49,000 customers and completing any open refunds remains our top priority in these unprecedented crisis.”
A Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) spokesperson said: “CMA action led to lastminute.com committing to pay out over £7m to customers waiting for money back.
“They must now report to us on how they are complying with the commitments they signed up to and the deadlines agreed. Should it become clear that they have breached these undertakings we will consider further action.”
First West Lothian team up with Edinburgh Trams to offer a through ticket on all services to link up with the tram at Ingliston Park & Ride, Gyle Centre and Edinburgh Park Station
£4.50 ticket offers a value for money through journey connection via bus and tram with Edinburgh City Centre.
Advice to all passengers is to check latest Scottish Government advice on essential travel guidelines in the area in advance of all journeys.
Local bus operator First West Lothian has teamed up with the Edinburgh Trams to provide customers with another direct link to Edinburgh City Centre via the new bus and tram through ticket.
Available exclusively on the award-winning First Bus App, the all new £4.50 Bus/Tram through ticket is available across all services on the West Lothian network meaning customers now have a convenient connection between their local bus service and the tram into the city centre.
Service 20 in particular offers passengers a drop off at the park and ride directly for quick and convenient access to the tram.
Alternatively, customers can still purchase the First day ticket for just £4.00 for the region (L&M) which gives access to all First West Lothian services including connections to Edinburgh City centre by bus alone. For example, with the day ticket customers can connect onto the X25, X24 and X38 straight into town.
First West Lothian Commercial Director Graeme Macfarlan said: “We want to make it as easy as possible for people who need to make essential journeys to get around and get to their destinations safely during these unprecedented times.
“We were asked to consider the introduction of a through bus and tram ticket that offered the same benefits as those offered by the previous operator, and so, in responding to the needs of our customers, we are delighted to be introducing a through ticket to replicate that offering.
“The hope is now that the customers utilise this offer and support these services once they are able to do so as Coronavirus lockdown restrictions ease again.”
Lea Harrison, Managing Director of Edinburgh Trams said: “We are delighted to be partnering with First West Lothian to allow their customers to seamlessly connect to the city centre by tram.
“We offer fast and frequent services which an easy interchange with First services at Ingliston Park & Ride, Gyle Centre and Edinburgh Park Station for Hermiston Gait.
“We encourage all customers to check our website for the latest timetables and travel advice.”
Transport and Environment Convener Councillor Lesley Macinnes said: “This new ticket will give passengers even more options for seamless, reliable travel by public transport between Edinburgh and West Lothian.
“Of course, people should only be making essential journeys by any mode of transport at the moment. But this joint offer from First West Lothian and Edinburgh Trams will be beneficial for communities served by both in the future.”
Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs said:“This is an excellent initiative from First West Lothian and Edinburgh Trams to improve connectivity between Edinburgh and West Lothian.
“Having an affordable multi-purpose ticket is a good way to make best use of the trams and make transport easier between West Lothian, Edinburgh city centre and the airport.
“I would like to see a paper ticket made available for those who don’t have a smartphone to buy a ticket on the First Bus app.”
“we are aware of local concerns, and we’ve made a number of changes in response” – Transportand Environment Convener Cllr Lesley Macinnes
Work on measures to ‘significantly improve’ cycle safety on Lanark Road, Longstone Road and Inglis Green Road as part of the Spaces for People programme will begin next week, the city council has announced:
Following feedback from the community we’ve made several amendments to the scheme, which will include a segregated cycle lane on both sides of the road and speed limit reductions.
Along with pop-up cycle lanes on Slateford Road and Dundee Street/Fountainbridge, interventions will help relieve congestion on the Union Canal towpath and Water of Leith walkway. These shared use paths have seen a substantial increase in pedestrians and cyclists during lockdown with at least a 150% rise in cyclists during the summer. This alternative route will help reduce conflict and allow for physical distancing, particularly on narrower sections like the Slateford Aqueduct.
Since sharing the original proposals with stakeholders we’ve made changes to the designs in response to comments from local people, largely to maximise parking access for businesses and any residents who don’t have driveways.
Transport and Environment Convener Councillor Lesley Macinnes (SNP) said: This scheme will introduce a much-needed safe and welcoming route for those making essential journeys by foot, bike or wheelchair, offering an alternative to the Union Canal towpath and Water of Leith walkway.
“It’s clear from our own monitoring that these popular shared-use paths are becoming over-crowded and we simply must provide other options for the many people who don’t own a car, who don’t feel comfortable using public transport at present or who want to take daily exercise on foot or bike.
“Of course, we are aware of local concerns, and we’ve made a number of changes in response. The beauty of the scheme’s temporary nature is that we’ll be able to continue monitoring its effectiveness too, making further tweaks where possible.
Transport and Environment Vice Convener Councillor Karen Doran (Labour) said: “This is all about providing safe, convenient options for those making essential journeys and this is a key route for those travelling out of the city.
“Our Spaces for People team have worked hard to respond to concerns from residents and businesses and as a result the designs have been changed. Ultimately, this is about protecting the safety of vulnerable road users, and providing space for people to physically distance, and schemes like these are essential for achieving that.”
Measures on Lanark Road and Inglis Green Road will include:
Segregated cycle lanes on both sides of the road, protected from traffic
A reduced speed limit, from 40mph to 30mph
The removal of the kerbside traffic lane, except on approach to junctions
The introduction of a bus lane on approach to Gillespie crossroads
Measures on Longstone Road will include:
Introduction of segregated, and advisory cycle lanes as space allows
A reduced speed limit, from 30mph to 20mph
Carriageway narrowing and parking restrictions at certain points
Safety improvements at Longstone Roundabout
Changes to designs following community feedback will see additional parking retained at:
Cranley Nursery
Lanark Road Nursery
Dovecot Park
Inglis Green Road
Kingsknowe Golf Course
Redhall area
As part of the development of the scheme we’ve liaised closely with a range of stakeholders, such as the emergency services, Lothian Buses, community councils, equalities organisations, Spokes and Living Streets to ensure designs don’t impact on essential services or accessibility and that they provide an improved environment for pedestrians, wheelchair users and cyclists.
Once introduced, we will continue to monitor the changes, carrying out regular reviews and tweaking where necessary.
This project is one of a range of improvements being made across the city as part of the Spaces for People programme, which is helping to provide safe, welcoming routes for walking, cycling and wheeling while allowing people to physically distance during COVID-19 restrictions.
Passengers travelling to Scotland from abroad will be required to have proof of a negative test taken a maximum of 72 hours before travel.
The new public health requirement, to be introduced as soon as practically possible, aims to strengthen current safeguards against imported cases and in particular protect against new strains of coronavirus such as those identified in Denmark and South Africa.
People arriving into Scotland will have to take the pre-departure test (PDT) up to 72 hours before leaving the country they are in. Those coming from countries not on the quarantine exemption list will still be required to self-isolate for 10 days on arrival.
Non-essential travel to or from Scotland is currently illegal and will not immediately change with the introduction of pre-departure testing.
Transport Secretary Michael Matheson said: “Travel into or out of Scotland is currently illegal and that will remain the case while we work to suppress the new strain of COVID-19.
“The Scottish Government has been consistently clear about the risks associated with international travel and the importance of public health measures in helping to stop the spread of coronavirus. That is why we have been in regular dialogue with the UK Government and the other devolved administrations about what further measures can be put in place, including the introduction of pre-departure testing (PDT).
“The requirement for pre-departure testing will add to our suite of public health measures as we seek to help drive down transmission of the virus to safeguard health, protect the NHS and save lives.
“It is important to emphasise that this additional measure does not remove the requirement for all passengers arriving from countries not on the quarantine exemption list to self-isolate for ten days, even with a negative test.
“Likewise, all passengers will continue to have to complete a Passenger Locator Form and, of course, they will be subject to national lockdown restrictions, which currently bar people from leaving their home or other fixed address without a reasonable excuse for doing so.
“As the UK Government has made clear, there are still some outstanding issues to address and it is important that we consider the implications, but we are keen to implement this as soon as it is possible.”
Edinburgh Airport Chief Executive Gordon Dewar is less than pleased:
https://twitter.com/i/status/1347544474197614592
International arrivals required to prove negative COVID-19 test result before departure for England
all international arrivals to England, including UK nationals, required to present a negative COVID-19 test taken up to 72 hours prior to departure
passengers will be subject to an immediate fine of £500 if they fail to comply with the new regulations on pre-departure testing
all passengers arriving from countries not on the government’s travel corridor list will still be required to self-isolate for 10 days, regardless of test result
passengers will still be required to fill in a passenger locator form and be subject to national lockdown restrictions
Passengers arriving from all international destinations will be required to present a negative COVID-19 test result before departing for England to help protect against new strains of coronavirus circulating internationally.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has announced that from next week inbound passengers arriving by boat, plane or train will have to take a test up to than 72 hours before departing the country they are in, to help protect against the new strains of coronavirus such as those seen in Denmark and South Africa.
Today’s (8 January 2021) decisive action is in response to the changes seen in the transmission of the virus both domestically and across the globe. Pre-departure testing will protect travel and will provide an additional layer of safety from imported cases of coronavirus on top of the mandatory 10 day self-isolation for arrivals, helping identify people who may currently be infectious and preventing them from travelling to England.
A negative pre-departure test reduces the risk of someone travelling whilst infectious, acting as another safeguard to prevent imported infections. Passengers arriving from countries not on the government’s travel corridor list must self-isolate for 10 days regardless of their pre-departure test result to provide further robust protection from those travelling from high-risk countries.
Prior to departure passengers will need to present proof of a negative COVID-19 test result to carriers, as well as their passenger locator form. The UK Border Force will conduct spot checks on arrival into England to ensure that passengers are fully compliant.
The move further bolsters existing protective measures which helped to safely enable international travel last year, with self-isolation for new arrivals and travel corridors remaining critical in reducing the risk of imported cases from high-risk countries.
Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps said: “We already have significant measures in place to prevent imported cases of COVID-19, but with new strains of the virus developing internationally we must take further precautions.
“Taken together with the existing mandatory self-isolation period for passengers returning from high-risk countries, pre-departure tests will provide a further line of defence – helping us control the virus as we roll out the vaccine at pace over the coming weeks.”
National lockdown restrictions which came into force on 6 January 2021 remain in place meaning everyone must stay at home unless travelling for a very limited set of reasons, including for work.
Permitted travellers will need to take their test up to 72 hours before departure, and this will apply irrespective of whether a country is on the travel corridor list. The government will set out the standards that these tests will need to meet and what proof passengers will need to present.
Passengers arriving into England who have successfully demonstrated a negative result prior to departure from a country not on the travel corridor list will still have the option to reduce the self-isolation period from 10 to as little as 5 days by paying for a test through the Test to Release scheme. The scheme requires a test to be taken on or after the fifth full day since leaving a country not on the travel corridor list.
Passengers will be required to show their negative test result before boarding, and transport operators will deny boarding if necessary. On arrival back into the UK, Border Force will check passengers test results through the current spot check regime, to ensure that individuals are compliant with the new rules, and passengers will be subject to an immediate fine of £500.
There will be a limited number of exemptions, including for hauliers, children under 11, crews and for those who travelling from countries without the infrastructure available to deliver the tests. Further exemptions will be set out on GOV.UK.
Those who travel indirectly from South Africa must self-isolate for 10 days.
All travellers will still be required to complete a passenger locator form before arrival into England. This is critical in being able to track the virus in case of any local outbreaks, and those who fail to complete a passenger locator form will be subject to an increased fine of £500.
Rory Boland, Editor of Which? Travel, said:“The decision to introduce mandatory testing for people travelling to the UK is a positive step for protecting public health and building confidence that travel is safe, but further detail is needed for how this will work.
“Travellers and airlines urgently need clear information from the government on what type of tests are required and how to access them. There will be a lack of testing capacity in some locations, leaving people at risk of not being able to access a test in time for their flight. This may mean they’re unable to board their flight and have to pay hundreds of pounds for a new one or worse, are left stranded, as most airlines are currently shutting down or reducing flight schedules.”
National Express will fully suspend its national network of scheduled coach services with effect from 23:59 on Sunday 10 January 2021.
Chris Hardy, managing director of National Express UK Coach: “We have been providing an important service for essential travel needs. However, with tighter restrictions and passenger numbers falling, it is no longer appropriate to do this.”
All journeys before Monday 11 January will be completed to ensure any passengers making essential journeys are not stranded. All customers whose travel has been cancelled will be contacted and offered a free amendment or full refund.
Chris Hardy adds: “As the vaccination programme is rolled out and Government guidance changes, we will regularly review when we can restart services. We plan to be back on the road as soon as the time is right and have put a provisional restart date of Monday 1 March in place (subject to change).
“The whole team at National Express worked incredibly hard throughout 2020 and I want to thank them for their efforts as we pause our services. We will now make sure we are ready to get back behind the wheel as soon as the nation needs us again.”
Regular updates will be provided through the National Express website, social media channels and customer emails.
National Express will be running extra coach services on its UK-wide network in the run up to Christmas to ensure people can get home safely during the festive season (18 December 2020 – 4 January 2021).
The UK’s largest coach operator will be increasing the frequency of over 35 routes, introducing 13 new direct services and adding more locations to its timetable – starting from 18 December and running every day, including Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Supported by the Department for Transport, they will initially be doubling the mileage of the network, making nearly 250,000 seats available over the festive period*; and will further increase the number in response to demand – all with covid-secure measures in place.
Tickets are on sale now with more availability being released as soon as possible. Customers are being advised to plan their journey and book in advance as demand has been strong.
Chris Hardy, managing director of National Express Coach: “Trains won’t be running on Christmas Day and there are limited services on others, plus the planned engineering works on the railways.
“We’re happy to step up to help the UK public get home safely this Christmas, when it’s more important than ever.
“This is also good news for the network of local coach companies who operate services on our behalf, at the end of what has been a challenging year.”
Increased frequency routes:
Bristol<>London
South Coast<>Heathrow
Manchester <>London
Birmingham<>Manchester
East Mids<>Heathrow
Sheffield <>London
Cardiff<>London
Bath<>London
Halifax <>London
Birmingham<>London
Aberystwyth<>London
Leeds <>London
London<>Dover
North-West<>London
Thanet<>London
Brighton<>London
Leicester<>London
Birmingham<>Heathrow
Southampton<>London
Gloucester<>London
Birmingham<>Bradford
Bournemouth<>London
Nottingham<>London
South Wales<>Heathrow
Bristol<>Birmingham
Yorkshire<>London
Liverpool<>London
Coventry<>London
Norwich <>London
Birmingham<>Nottingham
Nottingham<>Bradford
Plymouth <>London
Swansea <>London
Birmingham<>Leicester
Portsmouth<>London
North Devon<>London
Haverford West<>London
New direct services:
Tyneside<>London
Teeside<>London
Hull<>London
Edinburgh<>London
Glasgow<>London
London<>York (via Leeds)
South Wales<>Birmingham
Cambridge<>London
Birmingham<>Hull
Cornwall<>London
Leeds<>Manchester
Leed<>Manchester<>Liverpool
East Mids<>West Yorkshire
New locations on festive timetable:
Hull
Peterborough
Cambridge
Chester
Sunderland
Newquay
Penzance
Falmouth
Lincoln
Swindon
Weston-super-Mare
Truro
All National Express coaches have significant covid-secure measures in place including enhanced cleaning, reduced capacity, wearing of face coverings, temperature screening and additional air conditioning filters.
Anyone who has tested positive for Covid-19 so is unable to travel, can request a full refund or amend their ticket. Passengers who no longer wish to or are unable to travel as planned will also be eligible for a free ticket amendment*.
Residents in north Edinburgh are being invited to help shape a key project to improve connections and public spaces in their local community.
The city council is asking people from across Muirhouse, Pilton, Granton and Drylaw to contribute to the future of Pennywell Road and its links to existing paths at Crewe Toll, Gypsy Brae, Silverknowes and West Granton Access Road.
Through the North Edinburgh Active Travel (NEAT) Connections scheme we’re proposing changes to Pennywell Road and the surrounding area. These include increasing space available for walking, cycling and wheeling, making it easier to access local shops and community spaces without the use of a car and working with members of the community to improve public areas and green spaces.
This will help to identify existing problem areas and opportunities for new crossings, green spaces or where other improvements could be made.
Transport and Environment Convener Councillor Lesley Macinnes said: This project will create a much more welcoming, relaxed environment for those travelling on foot, bike or wheelchair.
“We’ve already seen how temporary Spaces for People initiatives across the city have encouraged people to walk, wheel or cycle and we want to see this happen long-term, with the associated benefits to health and the environment.
“Of course, we want any changes to work for all the people who live and spend time in this area, which is why we want to hear what they think and where improvements can be made. By sharing their thoughts and ideas they can help shape the final design, which will make travel to nearby schools, shops and local areas much easier and safer for pedestrians and cyclists.
Interim Head of Infrastructure Delivery for Sustrans Scotland, Chiquita Elvin, said: “Despite being close to existing walking, cycling and wheeling routes, such as the North Edinburgh Path Network, it can be challenging to access them for Muirhouse and Pilton due to the volume of traffic and the focus on roads in the original design of the area.
“We want the local community to tell us how we can make walking, cycling and wheeling easier for them, be that with new path connections, wider pavements, dedicated space for cycling or new crossings. These changes have the potential to transform how people get around North Edinburgh and every opinion matters.”
As well as benefiting local residents, changes could make it easier for travel to Craigroyston Community High School, Craigroyston Primary, Oaklands Primary, Forthview Primary and the new civic centre being developed at the former Muirhouse Shopping Centre.
In addition to the Commonplace website locals can leave their feedback on maps displayed in the North Edinburgh Arts centre café.
Separate temporary measures to make cycling safer and easier on Pennywell Road, Muirhouse Parkway and Ferry Road are currently in place and have been implemented through the Spaces for People programme.
5,600 additional coach seats available from 23 to 27 December
Support provided by the Department for Transport to provide significant extra capacity over the festive period
23 and 27 December busiest days for travel, with Sheffield, Newcastle and Leeds most popular destinations
Additional destinations now back on the map following government agreement
Customers advised to book ahead as services are expected to be busy, to wear a face covering unless exempt, sanitise their hands regularly and maintain space when travelling
Tickets can be booked at megabus.com with free alterations up to 24 hours before travel
Stagecoach, Britain’s biggest bus and coach operator, has announced that 5,600 extra socially-distanced seats are being made available on its megabus coaches over the Christmas period, and urges families and friends planning to be reunited to book ahead.
With support from the Department for Transport, Stagecoach can offer extra megabus seats from all the major cities and many regions across the country including the North East, Leeds, Sheffield, Manchester, Birmingham, Nottingham, Bristol, Cardiff and London.
Additional seats will also be offered on services to and from Glasgow and Edinburgh.
The agreement with government will also allow megabus to provide services from additional places across the South West including Falmouth, Plymouth, Exeter, Cheltenham, Gloucester and Swindon. There will now also be services running to and from the north including Doncaster, Bradford and Scunthorpe with extra stops at Cambridge and new services to Great Yarmouth.
Around 50% of the previously available seats throughout December have now sold out, with cities such as Sheffield, Newcastle and Leeds showing big spikes in demand. Wednesday 23 and Sunday 27 December are the most popular days for travel and now thousands of extra seats are on sale, megabus is urging people to book ahead, especially as rail services are expected to be busy.
Students have also been successfully using megabus coaches to get home for Christmas, with figures showing a 90% increase during the student travel week, compared with the previous week. Extra coaches were provided on many routes.
Mark Venables, Managing Director for megabus, said: “Direct and high frequency intercity coaches are an increasingly popular travel choice and this year in particular, they will play a vital role in helping families and friends to be reunited for Christmas.
“On the busiest days in December, we have already sold around 50% of the capacity we had available, so it’s great news that we’re working with the UK Department for Transport to increase the number of seats on our services in the run up to the festive break. This agreement also means we’re able to add many more towns and cities across the South West and Northern England onto our network.
“We know that coach and train seats are booking up quickly, and with the increase in advance ticket sales that we have seen, we’re urging people to plan ahead and book travel as soon as possible.
“Our megabus services offer safe, easy and hassle-free travel and provide a great alternative to cars and train travel, which are typically a much more expensive way to travel. All of our tickets offer free amendments up to 24 hours in advance, so we’re offering flexibility this year, as well as great value travel.”
Extensive additional safety measures have been introduced across all services to ensure that people can travel with confidence. This includes regular touch-point cleaning, social distancing and anti-bac stations on board all coaches. All customers travelling are asked to wear face coverings in line with the government’s rules.
Customers travelling in the run up to Chrsitmas are advised to:
Plan and book ahead to try and avoid busy times and routes
Reserve a seat in advance
Try to avoid making unnecessary stops during your journey
Come with a face covering to wear throughout your journey
If you feel unwell or have any Coronavirus symptoms, please do not use public transport
megabus will be operating throughout the festive period including on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, providing a safe and convenient way for people to get together with family and loved ones in line with the government’s Christmas rules.
All megabus tickets can be altered up to 24 hours in advance free of charge. Those wishing to reserve a seat benefit from double the usual luggage allowance, and the coaches can be tracked while they’re on the road at https://coachtracker.uk.megabus.com/.
New research by the UK’s largest independent road safety charity, IAM RoadSmart, has discovered that many motorists will rush to make last minute car travel plans for the Christmas period this year, while others will make fewer stops when driving long journeys.
The charity’s survey of 1,000 drivers in the UK investigated the impact COVID-19 will have on people’s travel plans over this year’s festive season, with some worrying safety issues emerging.
Among the most alarming findings are that almost seven-in-ten drivers (69%) are still waiting to make firm travel plans until they have clearer guidelines from the Government on travel restrictions that may affect them, giving them less time to prepare for potentially long journeys and make critical vehicle safety checks.
At the same time, four-in-ten (40%) long-distance drivers who travel more than 150 miles over Christmas and who would routinely stop during their journey at services or other types of outlet, such as cafes or pubs for lunch and refreshments, have decided that they will not do so this year due to concerns over the Coronavirus and social distancing.
The decision not to break long journeys is most prevalent among men, with more than half (56%) of male drivers surveyed saying they will not stop this year when they would have normally done so, compared to around a quarter (27%) of women.
Regionally, it is drivers from Scotland and London who are most likely to forego stops for breaks during long journeys during Christmas this year, with 67% and 64% respectively saying they will not break their journeys due to Coronavirus safety concerns.
With more than a quarter (27%) of all drivers still intending to travel more than 100 miles over the Christmas period this year, a lack of planning and not stopping for breaks could have serious road safety implications.
Neil Greig, Policy and Research Director at the charity, said: “Our research shows that unsurprisingly COVID-19 will have a significant impact on travel plans over Christmas this year.
“While it’s understandable that ongoing uncertainty and safety concerns over exposing relatives to the virus has caused many people to postpone their planning, it is important that critical safety steps, such as making vehicle maintenance checks and stopping regularly during long journeys are not overlooked.”
Neil added: “Taking a break on a long car journey is essential for the driver, and passengers, to recharge their batteries. Spending too long behind-the-wheel in one stint can lead to drowsiness and a loss of concentration with potentially catastrophic consequences for all road users. Our advice is to take at least a 15-minute break every two hours.
“The festive season is a busy period for many of us, and this year it will likely be even more challenging as Coronavirus continues to impact our everyday lives. But road safety and – taking sensible precautions – is everyone’s responsibility when driving, no matter what other pressures are at play.
“So, we urge everyone to make sure they leave time for important safety measures as they make their travel plans this Christmas.”
