As some of you may have read in the bus trade press, the DfT have now re-written their "guidance" for what it's worth regarding the section 19 and section 21 minibus operations.

Basically all the community Transport operators have been told they MUST have all their drivers properly licenced with D1 entitlement and Driver Certificate of Professional competence , their buses must all be class 6 vehicles, and the operation must have an operators' licence.

This of course has raised consternation and panic amongst the CT operators who have of course known for years of the moves to get them properly licenced and have now at this lat date decided to act, not to get licenced, which would be the easiest option, but to fight the law, which they will undoubtedly lose.

Local authorities have been told they cannot issue tenders for passenger transport to any unlicenced operator as from now.

There is a case before the Midlands Traffic Commissioner against a CT company in the midlands which should prove interesting. This is a continuation from the case which started a couple of weeks ago. Basically, this lot have operated for years with a substantial number of section 19 minibuses, have been told to get licenced, they have not, so now their chances of getting a licence are in jeopardy as they refuse to take the advice given by the Traffic Commissioner. they also risk having their vehicles confiscated as they could be running illegally!

My bus number (if any): RML2532