Fares on buses in Cornwall operated by the Go-Ahead Group have been cut by up to 40% under a government-backed pilot scheme that is aiming for a 10% increase in bus usage.
Go-Ahead said the four-year scheme will measure the extent to which lower fares can stimulate a change in travel behaviour by kick-starting growth in bus use.
The county-wide initiative is funded by Transport for Cornwall using a £23.5m grant from the Department for Transport.
Go-Ahead described the scheme as consistent with goals under the Government’s National Bus Strategy to encourage partnership working between operators and local authorities, and to promote the social, economic and environmental benefits of bus usage.
Transport for Cornwall has set a goal of increasing bus usage by 10% across the county.
Buses minister Baroness Vere said: ‘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, said: ‘To become carbon neutral as a country by 2050, we need to encourage people to switch from car to bus. Investment in fares is a useful tool alongside bus priority schemes, flexible ticketing and digital payments to make journeys as swift and easy as possible.’
Fares under the scheme will include:
- £2.50 a day or £10 a week for adults within Cornish towns
- £5 a day or £20 a week for adults for travel across Cornwall
- Adult singles from £1.60, returns from £2.40
- Family ticket for £10 a day, up to two adults and unlimited children under 16
Go Cornwall Bus is the county’s largest bus operator, operating over 100 routes carrying 90,000 passengers per week.
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