George Eustice, Member of Parliament for Camborne, Redruth and Hayle, has today welcomed the launch of the new Cornwall Council-led Bus Service Improvement Plan called ‘Make Big Savings by Bus’.
This new scheme will fundamentally change the fare structure of buses in Cornwall, saving the average consumer up to 1/3 of the cost of their journey. For instance, a journey between Camborne and Redruth, or a ‘short-hop fare’ will be reduced by up to 20%, while a longer journey, such as Camborne to Truro will see a reduction of around 40% in some cases.
Furthermore, the Transport Portfolio holder, Cllr Phillip Desmond, and his team have been working hard with all the bus companies across Cornwall over the last 6 months to create a new day pass for unlimited travel across Cornwall that works on any bus service. This new pass will cost just £5 a day or £20 a week and allow for limitless travel on the bus network across the Duchy.
In addition to this new bus pilot, last week the Secretary of State for Transport announced a further £13.3 million for Cornwall to expand services, which is part of a wider £7 billion package to help improve public transport outside of London. It aims to make buses more reliable and greener.
Following the launch of the new pilot, George commented, "Since being elected, I have prioritised economic regeneration and green recovery. Investing in and improving the public transport system for Cornwall is a significant step forward in ensuring that our local communities are supported and connected.
"These announcements should encourage more people to use our growing bus network, supporting both businesses and residents alike, driving regeneration across the whole Camborne and Redruth area."
Baroness Vere, the Buses Minister added, "The launch of this excellent scheme across Cornwall is a significant moment in our ambition to level up transport links across the country. Backed by a £23.5m Government investment, we want to place Cornwall at the leading edge of a national bus revolution, which will underpin our drive towards net-zero, increase connectivity between communities and provide relief at the ticket booth at a time when finances are tight."
Mark Anderson, Go-Ahead’s Customer and Commercial Director, "With petrol prices soaring, this is a timely initiative aimed at persuading motorists to switch to buses in a largely rural part of England. It’s a win-win both for locals all year round and for visitors, who will be able to take cheaper buses to Cornwall’s spectacular beaches this summer."
Read more here: http://georgeeustice.blogspot.com/2022/04/bus-back-better.html
