Truro and Falmouth’s MP Cherilyn Mackrory has welcomed the announcement of a revolutionary new bus strategy, backed by £3 billion of investment.

Piloted in Cornwall from 2020, the strategy will see passengers across Truro and Falmouth benefiting from more frequent, more reliable, easier to use and understand, better coordinated and cheaper bus services.

The strategy requires Cornwall Council to work in partnership with bus operators to improve services for passengers in order to be eligible for funding in future.

Councils and operators will be expected to provide:

• Simpler single bus fares with daily price caps, so people can use the bus as many times a day as they need without facing mounting costs.

• More services in the evenings and at the weekends.

• Integrated services and ticketing across all transport modes in the area, so people can easily move from bus to train.

• Easy to access information, including online, so that services are simple to use.

• All buses to accept contactless payments.

Such improvements will be underpinned by fundamental reforms to the sector, and will see operators need to work with their local councils on targets for improving passenger numbers, reliability and passenger satisfaction, to be eligible for future government funding.

Only councils and operators who work to meet these requirements will continue to receive the around £100 million per month emergency Covid funding for the sector, or any new sources of funding from the £3 billion investment.

Cherilyn said:

“Good bus services can have a transformational role in places like Truro and Falmouth unlocking job opportunities, boosting businesses and supporting economic growth.”

“This new National Strategy Bus Strategy, backed by £3 billion, will help make to make this a reality – paving the way for simpler fares, more reliable services, and better connections across every part of the country.”

“Cornwall has already seen as pilot of this scheme with the reduced fares pilot from 2020, although that was impacted by the pandemic, and I hope this full rollout will be able to make bus services across Truro and Falmouth better.”

“At the last general election, I stood on a manifesto that promised to level up and improve transport connections across Truro and Falmouth and this boost to our local bus services will help to deliver on that promise.”

The news has come alongside the arrival of 102 new lower emissions buses that have been introduced into the fleet over the past year.

These vehicles?are claimed to be the latest generation?of cleaner diesel buses,?and produce 75 per cent less nitrogen dioxide than?earlier models, providing Cornwall with the youngest supported service fleet in the country at just two years old.

It's hoped that the scheme, which included confirmation of an award of £23.5million, will enable Cornwall Council to deliver a reduced bus fares pilot.

 

Cornwall will be the first authority in the country to introduce such a scheme and it is hoped it will help to support the Council’s own bus service improvement plans.

Geoff Brown, the Council’s Portfolio Holder for Transport, said: "This is fantastic news for the people of Cornwall.

"Originally, the reduced bus fares pilot scheme was due to be introduced in Cornwall in 2020 but Covid restrictions meant that the initiative had to be put on hold.

"Now we can start to make plans to be the first authority to introduce a reduced fares scheme.

"This is a significant step forward and complements Cornwall’s investment in public transport to connect communities and to provide a viable alternative to taking the car to support our commitment to tackle the climate emergency.

"This will also help people returning to work as Covid restrictions are lifted by making bus travel more affordable and attractive."

The Council currently supports 50 per cent of the total bus mileage in Cornwall, with the remaining mileage being run commercially by providers First Kernow and Go Cornwall Bus.