Kent coaches say students could miss out, if fuel cost not supported
Coach industry warns of potential service cuts amid financial strain
School transport services across the UK face potential disruption as rising fuel costs pose challenges for coach operators.
The Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) has alerted the Government that the costs associated with diesel have increased by 30% since the onset of the Iran oil crisis, which started on 28th February.
More than 600,000 children in the UK rely on coach services for transportation to and from school daily.
Many of these services operate under fixed-cost contracts with local authorities, which have not adjusted to accommodate the escalating fuel prices.
Strain on Coach Operators
Kent-based Chalkwell Coaches are one of many assessing the financial viability of current contracts, according to managing director Roland Eglington.
Speaking to Greatest Hits Radio Kent, he said:
"Fuel is our second biggest cost behind labour.
"It accounts for around 15% of our total cost base. And since this crisis started, we've seen prices go up by around a third for the fuel in its own right.
"And of course, it pushes up the price of everything else, fuel is a key driver in our economy.
"So everything we purchase, the prices seem to be going up and up.
"The big bus operators have had a degree of financial assistance from government. But the smaller SME operators, you know, typical local coach operators, haven't really had anything. And we're having to absorb all of the cost impacts for no additional revenue."
When it came to funding SEND transport for schools, he noted that many coach companies were reconsidering work for the next school year, noting that fixed term contracts had failed to take rising fuel prices into account.
Eglington added:
"We provide services that are a lifeline for a lot of local communities, some of those rural, some of those would really struggle if the local bus service or coach service was not viable.
"So there's a wider societal impact there that you can't easily measure on a spreadsheet, but it's a very real impact for people who depend on those services.
"Be it to get to school or to get to shops or employment. So, yeah, there's a wider impact that needs to be considered."
Government Response and Support
A Government spokesperson said:
“We are determined to keep costs down as the war in Iran drives up global fuel prices and are working tirelessly with our international partners to find a permanent solution to this crisis.
“Home to school transport costs have escalated sharply in recent years, mostly due to children travelling miles away where their local schools are not equipped to meet their needs, which our SEND reforms tackle directly by putting the right support in all schools.
“Ahead of these reforms, the government is already tackling rising costs – including a new national data collection so councils can benchmark spending, a bespoke funding formula to direct money where it is needed most, and creating better tools to improve routes serving schools.”