The European Union was urged to ensure better access to coach travel

According to information posted on eurolines.com, the request was made by Mr. John Gilbert - President of Eurolines, a co-founder of a campaign to improved access to coach terminals. Eurolines, Europe's leading coach company, and the rest of the coach industry is also pressing for more "integrated" rail and bus terminals.

Gilbert said that while the company welcomed the recent adoption of new rights for passengers, "much still needs to be done" to improve the "passenger experience".

He pointed out that many European cities, including tourist destinations such as Amsterdam and Copenhagen, do not have a public coach terminal.

The main coach station in Copenhagen is in a side street, he said, while the terminal in Amsterdam is on the city's outskirts.

Coach stations in both Nice and Bordeaux have been "relegated" to outside both cities.

"Until recently, Strasbourg would not allow us to set down within the city centre and confined us to a brown site outside the city," he said.

He added, "We welcome the new legislation on bus passenger rights but the EU could do more to improve the 'passenger experience'.

"International coach passengers still face problems because local and transport authorities in many major European cities do not provide access to bus terminals.

"The industry faces real problems in terms of very poor access to terminals in major European cities and to other transport terminals. Simple improvements could be made to improve the experience of passengers."

He said that improving access to coach terminals would "fall into line" with current calls for a push towards low-carbon transport.

"The commission's transport white paper reflects on this but there is still a preoccupation with the rail sector. The draft legislation calls for more 'green' transport but if we are going to achieve this we need more integrated transport hubs and better access to terminals."

He added, "The message I am trying to get across is that the bus and coach industry offers an affordable and environmentally-friendly way to travel cross-border and is becoming more and more popular."