Cornish Catch Up

Catching up on some transport news for Cornwall:

Its Unfare…

The recent announcement of fare increases has not gone down well:

Cornwall Live readers have voiced their concern following a recent bus fare increase, marking the second such rise in four months. This hike has particularly troubled parents who depend on public transport for their children's journey to school.

Bus fares across Cornwall are set to soar for the second time in just four months, leaving hundreds of passengers, particularly families with children, facing even tougher challenges amidst the cost of living crisis. Go Cornwall Bus, operating under Transport for Cornwall and overseen by Cornwall Council, has declared that from the end of September, ticket prices will rise for both adults and children on most services.

https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/news-opinion/cornwall-bus-fares-rocket-one-9590237

On 1 October, Go Cornwall Bus sent out two emails in quick succession to Geoff Cadwallader, chair of Rame Peninsula Public Transport User Group, with their explanation of the fare increases, although neither email directly addressed the impact on families whose fares for school travel have increased so substantially.

http://www.cornwallbuses.org.uk/bus-fares-increasing-from-29-september.html

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National Distress

Users of a coach service between south-west England and London have lost a "lifeline" after the decision to axe it, supporters of it say.

The National Express 503 service used to run from Penzance to the capital - stopping in towns including Camborne, Newquay and Launceston - but has not run since the start of September

North Cornwall MP Ben Maguire has launched a petition, external to argue for the service to be reinstated.

National Express said it recognised local people's disappointment but it had to stop it as it was not financially viable.

Liberal Democrat MP Mr Maguire said he would raise the issue with the transport secretary as soon as he returned to parliament.

He said: "This is going to have a massive impact on my constituents and that is why I have immediately started this campaign to reinstate it.

"It's totally unacceptable. We already have such abysmal transport infrastructure in North Cornwall and now this vital link has been taken away from us."

A spokesperson for National Express said: "This change is part of a comprehensive review of our national network and unfortunately the 503 service is commercially unviable.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c243q1rl6zzo

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Truro Park & Ride

First Kernow, which operates bus services across Cornwall, has been successful in a competitive tender process to operate Truro Park & Ride (P&R) for another three years.

The operator has run the popular service for Cornwall Council for the last nine years. First Kernow will continue to provide services from the two Truro Park & Ride sites at Langarth Park on the west of Truro and Tregurra Park on the east of Truro, following a recent tender exercise which saw First Kernow as the winning bidder.

First Kernow will continue to provide a dedicated route, running every ten minutes at peak times to key locations in Truro, including the city centre, hospital and the museum. Ticket prices will remain the same, providing affordable travel into the centre, with tickets that can cost as little as £1.64 a day.

Truro’s Park & Ride carries over 850,000 passengers per year, providing greener, more sustainable travel into the city. Supporting Cornwall Council’s mission to achieve cleaner air, the P&R helps ease congestion in the centre, with buses which provide lower emissions, as well as the introduction of seven electric vehicles through Zebra 2 funding during 2025 and supporting charging infrastructure to replace the existing diesel fleet.

Working in collaboration with Cornwall Council, First Kernow will work to encourage more people to use the service. Serving the local community, the operator has also made plans to support local projects, including Tregurra Fields, and engaging with local schools and colleges. The contract will also provide 15 Real Living Wage opportunities for local drivers and apprenticeship opportunities.

https://news-ssandsw.firstbus.co.uk/news/first-kernow-is-awarded-truro-park-ride-contract

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Rame Public Meeting

The Rame Peninsula Public Transport Users Group has been active for many years in south east Cornwall, promoting public transport and acting as a forum in which passengers can air their views about the bus and rail services in that part of the county and its close neighbour, Plymouth. The group is well known and respected by the bus operator, Plymouth Citybus/Go Cornwall Bus.
The group holds public meetings a few times each year and its next meeting will be in Antony Village Hall on Thursday 31st October from 2.00 p.m. In attendance will be Mark Collins, Commercial Director of Go South West Bus, as well as Gemma Hall and Nick Truscott from Cornwall Council's public transport unit. The meeting is open to all.

http://www.cornwallbuses.org.uk/rame-peninsula-group-public-meeting-31-october.html