27/04/2009 (Agence Europe) - An error found its way into our article on the European Parliament's vote on the draft regulation on the rights of bus and coach passengers (see EUROPE 9889). Contrary to what was stated in our article, the new rules should apply to all regular passenger transport services, including regional services, by coach or bus companies. Further to the adoption of an amendment by the PES, member states would be authorised to exclude urban transport and suburban transport services covered by public service contracts from the scope of the regulation, on condition that, under such contracts, passengers' rights are protected at a level comparable to that afforded by the regulation. The International Road Transport Union (IRU) has said that, given their specific nature, all urban, suburban and regional transport services should be excluded from the scope of the text. It calls for a detailed impact assessment to be carried out on the general impact that implementation of the rules proposed will have on costs. (A.By./transl.jl)