Victoria Coach Station

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Victoria Coach Station
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Victoria Coach Station.jpg
Location 164 Buckingham Palace Road, SW1W 9TP
City of Westminster
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Owned by Transport for London
Operated by Transport for London
Bus stands 22
Connections London Victoria station (300 metres)
History
Opened 1932
Traffic
Passengers 240,000 departures (2013/14)
Location
Victoria Coach Station is located in Central London
Victoria Coach Station
Victoria Coach Station
Location within Central London

Victoria Coach Station is the largest coach station in London. It serves long-distance coach services and is also the departure point for many countryside coach tours originating from London. It should not be confused with the nearby Green Line Coach Station or the Victoria bus station, which serves London Buses. It is operated by Victoria Coach Station Limited[1] a subsidiary of Transport for London.

History

Victoria Coach Station was opened at its present site in Buckingham Palace Road, London, in 1932, by London Coastal Coaches, an association of coach operators. The building is in a distinctive Art Deco style, the architects for which were Wallis, Gilbert and Partners.[2] The building was listed at Grade II by English Heritage on 1 September 2014.[3]

It was originally managed by London Coastal Coaches, a consortium of coach operators. In 1970 it became a subsidiary of the National Bus Company.[2]

In 1988 ownership of Victoria Coach Station Limited was transferred to London Transport. In 2000 ownership passed to Transport for London.

People

Rough sleepers masquerade as travellers waiting for a coach, so they can sleep indoors.[4]

Travellers are offered help with their bags by luggage porters. They are licensed, but not employed by Transport for London. All of their income is in the form of tips from travellers.[4][5]

Operation

Victoria Coach Station has separate arrival and departure terminals which are located on opposite sides of Elizabeth Street. The main departures building includes food outlets, shops, left luggage facilities and ticketing. Services are operated by:[6]

There are 21 departure gates with the site covering 3.3 acres (13,000 m2). In the 12 months to March 2014, 14 million passengers travelled on 240,000 services to and from the station.[7]

Future developments

The freeholder of the site, the Grosvenor Group announced in 2013 that it wished to redevelop the site, and relocate the coach station elsewhere in the capital.[8] However the building was heritage listed in 2014.

References

  1. Companies House extract company no 205610 Victoria Coach Station Limited
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  7. Annual Report for year ended 31 March 2014 Transport for London
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External links