Long-Distance Bus Services in Europe: Concessions or Free Market?

Long-distance coach services are not the most glamorous part of Europe’s long distance passenger transport system. High-speed rail or airlines attract much more political and media attention. Rail and air are much more visible and require much more (public) investment in highly visible infrastructures. Coaches on the contrary disappear in general traffic and do not require public investments, except perhaps in suitable coach stations at attractive places in urban centres. Yet, longdistance “express” coaches cater for a substantial part of the mobility of Europe’s less-wealthy citizens, at least in those countries that have appropriately (de)regulated this branch of activity.