The international perspective: problems

and opportunities
29 February 2012
Brussels, Belgium
Presented by Mr John Gilbert
President Eurolines Organisation
What is Eurolines?
• The No1 Express Coach operator across Europe
• Pan European coach network covering 33 countries in
Europe over 600 key destinations
• Including over 100 major cities within the EU
• Providing international transport to 4 million customers annually
• Operating over 110 million kilometers
• Operating 500 coaches daily
• Cost effective way to travel across Europe
“A growing business on short to medium distances”
Network Map – Our 600 Destinations
Coach Travel in Europe
• Growing transport mode
• Environmental, safe, flexible
• Cost-effective solutions
• Fastest way to improve interconnectivity
PASSENGER ACCESS
Infrastructure
Infrastructure
• Smaller need than for air and rail transport
• Interconnectivity is key
• Local solutions

What do good Public Terminals provide?

• Easy access
• Easier access for PRMs
• In general safer environment
• Interchange with other travel modes
• Increase usage of coaches
Public Coach Terminals
Some good examples
• Stockholm
• London
• Madrid
• Munich
• Hamburg
• Lyon
• Budapest
Public Coach Terminals
Some not so good examples
• Paris
• Amsterdam
• Brussels
• Copenhagen
• Nice
• Vienna
• Bordeaux
What Eurolines is doing

We need to:
• Provide better access for all, including PRMs
• Create easy access terminal facilities
• Create and improve transport interchanges with the use of TEN-T
programmes
• Prepare for modal shift from air to surface travel
• Cater for increased mobility across Europe
CROSS-BORDER CONTROLS FOR COACH
SERVICES
Cumbersome Controls

• Repeated border controls despite Schengen

• Delays range between 30 min – 1 hour
• Discriminatory against Eurolines
- Strong brand identity and regularity
- Inequalities against air & train operators
Facilitating cross-border travelling
The aim:
• Create efficient joined up police controls
• Deliver high-quality passenger experience

Eurolines works actively to solve the problem:

• Cooperating with national authorities
• Staff trainings for identifying documents
• European responsibility needs European solution
COMPETITION: VAT AND CABOTAGE
ISSUES
Competition - VAT in European Countries

The problem:
• Diverging VAT calculations in different countries
• International coach services pay VAT on services & sales
• Air operators VAT exemption on fuel and ticket sales
• Unlevelled playing field between transport modes
Cabotage in the French market

• Cabotage is a victory for European passengers

• Cabotage in line with increased competitiveness
• Hindered by protectionism by Public actors in the transport field

Eurolines calls for:

• A common approach to VAT calculations in Member States
• Creation of a level playing field for transport
• Cabotage in France must not be erased by protectionist policies
CONCLUSIONS:

• Coach access to good quality city terminals

• Coach passengers can enjoy full freedom of movement in Schengen
• Levell playing field for VAT uptake for transport modes
• Cabotage defended in France and offered in other member states
where regular line services are currently prohibited.
Working Together to

Make Travel Simple

Across all Modes

This has to be the EU transport objective for the future..