Could Cornwall’s Buses Finally Be Getting Better? Labour MPs Back £11m Plan for Change

Cornwall’s four Labour MPs have welcomed what they describe as “transformative plans” to improve bus services across the Duchy, after the Government announced on Friday, 17th October, that Cornwall will be included in its expanded bus franchising pilot.

Funding to Support Rural and Coastal Communities

Each participating local authority will receive up to £500,000 during 2025-26 to explore how bus franchising could work in rural areas. Under this model, local authorities grant private companies the right to operate services in specific areas, aiming to prioritise passengers’ needs.

The announcement follows a previous £11 million funding boost for Cornwall to enhance popular routes, protect rural services, and increase bus use for shopping, socialising and commuting. The new funding will also help prevent reductions on at-risk routes and improve punctuality, addressing what has been described as a “postcode lottery” of unreliable services.

Addressing Declining Bus Services

Bus usage across Cornwall has declined by 2% in recent years, reflecting a wider national trend that has seen thousands of services cut and almost 300 million fewer miles driven by buses per year since 2010. The new scheme is part of a wider £955 million investment across England to deliver better bus services and reform the way local transport is managed.

Local MPs Welcome the Pilot

Anna Gelderd, Member of Parliament for South East Cornwall, said:
“Since I was elected, I’ve heard from many residents about the appalling bus services in South East Cornwall. Even in the last few weeks, we’ve had bus failures in Saltash, where our young people were left unable to go to school.

“It is fantastic that Cornwall is part of a bus franchising pilot scheme. I said that I’d deliver better buses, and I am glad that Cornwall is at the forefront of making bus services across the country better reflect the needs of rural and coastal communities.”

Noah Law, MP for St Austell and Newquay, said:
“Public transport in Cornwall needs to be made an obvious choice, not a chore. For that, we need a strategic approach which puts the public good, not private profit first, ensuring decisions on routes aren’t just made in a vacuum with no consideration for the bigger picture.

“For many people, good bus services are essential for accessing jobs and healthcare, or avoiding social isolation. But every week, constituents tell me of unreliable and reduced services causing undue hassle – such as the Newquay to Bodmin service taking two hours, waits of two hours between buses from St Dennis to Newquay and St Austell, cutbacks to the 26 bus service, and some services like the 21 seeing cancellations.

“This funding means we can take a fresh look at where we are now with the public good, not private profit as the first priority, and have a proper strategy for improving services going forward.”

Perran Moon, Member of Parliament for Camborne and Redruth, said:
“Cornwall has a rich and successful history of trialling schemes that are later rolled out elsewhere. I’m delighted that Cornwall is one of three areas in the Government’s expanded bus franchising pilot, which recognised the unique transport challenges our rural communities face. This funding will help us explore how devolved control over services can improve connectivity for bus users, support economic resilience and deliver a fairer deal for passengers across Cornwall.”

Jayne Kirkham, Member of Parliament for Truro and Falmouth, said:
“Transport is a big challenge in Cornwall. This pilot could help protect vital local routes, to college, work, and hospitals, from cuts like the one to the U1A, and support better route planning.”

Shaping the Future of Rural Bus Services

The pilot will help shape the national conversation around improving rural bus services and will play an important role in exploring whether a franchising scheme could be the right fit for Cornwall.