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Victorious station
Page 30
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Victoria Coach Station rumoured to face being shut down in favour of a new site in London will be here at least into the next century, says Ian Harkness, director of London Transport Trading.
• The adage that money speaks louder than words can be applied to Victoria Coach Station, which is having nearly 24m pumped into its development, despite speculation over its future.
So says Ian Harkness, chosen to fill the newly created role of director of London Transport Trading and to lead the station's revamp which will start next year.
Next century
"Victoria Coach Station will be here in the medium term. It is certainly going to be around through the 1990s — we would not have invested so much in it if not," he says. In any event he points out that LT has the station's freehold and lease until mid-next century.
But LT is continuing its quest to find another site in London, where it will set up a hub station and leave Victoria to act as a spoke. It is likely that the new coach station will be used for long-distance work and Victoria will concentrate on suburban routes.
In the meantime until a site, at least as large as the existing one has been found, LT is concentrating on Victoria's facelift which should be complete before the end of summer 1993. "We cannot wait for a facility for the long-term. We have to improve the facility we have already," Harkness insists. "The location of a new station is unclear and so for the duration this will be the major station."
The improved station should attract more operators and fill the off-peak periods, says Harkness. Currently about 20 coach firms use it regularly, of which National Express is the largest customer. And after the developments, Harkness expects its passenger total — now 11 million a year — and its 24.5m turnover to increase by 10%.
Harkness says the station is in a prime position, being so close to Victoria train and
underground station. LT bought it from the National Bus Co in 1988 at a reduced price of about 220m with a view to renovating the coach station.
At that time Harkness worked for London Buses, where he spent four years in the newly created post of marketing director. In February this year he joined LT with responsibility for eight divisions, which have a combined turnover of 2270m and more than 1,000 staff.
In addition to London Transport subsidiary Victoria Coach Station, he oversees the tendered bus unit; London Transport's advertising; LT's transport museum in Covent Garden; London Transport International (the worldwide consultancy service); LT's in-house catering; London District's travel pass distributors and the disabled passenger unit.
Victoria handles about 4,500 disabled pasengers a year and about a quarter of its passengers are pensioners. These statistics may explain why Harkness says: "I always think of passengers as an old lady and ask myself how will she react to any change."
Safety measures
LT is investing about 21.5m on safety measures at Victoria. It is separating passengers from the coaches and their fumes with a fully-enclosed, airportstyle departure lounge.
Passengers will only be allowed on to designated walkways to the coaches with an LT staff member present. In order to cope with the extra workload an extra 11 staff will be added to the 160-strong workforce.
"The improvements are being made to make an environment more relevant to passengers needs.
In the past people have been herded around, which is not sympathetic to their needs — it is obvious what must be done and we will do it," says Harkness.
by Juliet Parish