Citybus go Flix

 Plymouth Citybus and FlixBus have announced a new partnership, with long-distance coach services expected to begin in spring 2026.

Under the agreement, Plymouth Citybus will operate FlixBus-branded coach services as part of the company’s UK network. The partnership marks Plymouth Citybus’s first involvement in express coach operations.Andreas Schorling, Vice President of West Europe at FlixBus said:

Partnering with Plymouth Citybus enhances our network with a fantastic new operator and allows us to deliver more sustainable travel options and economic growth for the country.

The response to our UK expansion has been overwhelmingly positive from customers, and we have a clear strategy to grow our network significantly in 2026, increasing capacity in key corridors as well as opening up new routes.

As part of the partnership, Plymouth Citybus will take delivery of two Yutong GT12 coaches, which will be finished in full FlixBus livery and used on the new routes.

Richard Stevens, Managing Director of Plymouth Citybus said:

The new partnership brings express work to our portfolio for the first time, diversifying our business. It is clear that FlixBus are the leader in the coach sector, offering a dynamic approach to the industry, and we are beyond excited to be coming on board.

For the press launch Richard was standing in front of First South West 27002  which was caught on camera by Mark Bailey last year:

© Mark Bailey

Cornish Jottings..

Just a few jottings from Cornwall I have gleaned over the last few days
A Facebook group called Kernowspace reports that Cornwall Council wrote to First Bus on January 8, 2026, stating they intend to award the Truro Park and Ride contract to Go Cornwall Bus. There’s nothing official confirming this yet. 
According to the Cornwall Buses site, Go Ahead plans to bring in drivers from Go South Coast to help with the extra services. Go Cornwall Bus is set to begin replacing the cut First Bus routes on February 15, but it appears not enough First drivers want to transfer over to fill the vacancies. Go Ahead has asked its Wiltshire drivers if they’d like to be seconded to Cornwall for a few months to cover the shortfall. 
Having said that, some Facebook posts suggest many First drivers aren’t being taken on, which makes sense as fewer drivers are needed with reduced routes and frequencies. If First had been making good profits, they’d likely have stayed in Cornwall, so changes may be needed to make the new network sustainable. 
Hopefully, once things settle, there’ll be room for extra services during the summer season.
http://www.cornwallbuses.org.uk/go-cornwall-bus-need-drivers.html

Meanwhile Citybus have been bringing in quite a fleet of additional buses for the new services which have been arriving at Milehouse. More on these later this week.

The closure has started

This past week has brought quite a few service notices, which I’ve shared in two batches. Let’s start with the cancellations from First South West.

Licence	Route	Start Point	End Point	Effective	Notes	Operator
PH0004983.504	24	St Austell	Fowey	15-Feb-2026	Cancellation: First closing Cornwall bus operations	FIRST SOUTH WEST LIMITED
PH0004983.196	27	St Austell	Truro	15-Feb-2026	Cancellation: First closing Cornwall bus operations	FIRST SOUTH WEST LIMITED
PH0004983.625	29	St Austell	Mevagissey	15-Feb-2026	Cancellation: First closing Cornwall bus operations	FIRST SOUTH WEST LIMITED
PH0004983.501	87	Truro	Perranporth	15-Feb-2026	Cancellation: First closing Cornwall bus operations	FIRST SOUTH WEST LIMITED
PH0004983.648	87	Perranporth	Newquay	15-Feb-2026	Cancellation: First closing Cornwall bus operations	FIRST SOUTH WEST LIMITED
PH0004983.172	M6	Penzance	Mousehole	15-Feb-2026	Cancellation: First closing Cornwall bus operations	FIRST SOUTH WEST LIMITED
PH0004983.462	PR1 PR1A	Langarth	Tregurra	15-Feb-2026	Cancellation: First closing Cornwall bus operations	FIRST SOUTH WEST LIMITED
PH0004983.174	T2 (T1)	Truro	Penzance or St Ives	15-Feb-2026	Cancellation: First closing Cornwall bus operations	FIRST SOUTH WEST LIMITED
PH0004983.187	U1	Falmouth	Truro	15-Feb-2026	Cancellation: First closing Cornwall bus operations	FIRST SOUTH WEST LIMITED
PH0004983.179	U2	Falmouth	Camborne	15-Feb-2026	Cancellation: First closing Cornwall bus operations	FIRST SOUTH WEST LIMITED
PH0004983.179	U2	Falmouth	Camborne	15-Feb-2026	Cancellation: First closing Cornwall bus operations	FIRST SOUTH WEST LIMITED
PH0004983.171	U4	Falmouth	Helson	15-Feb-2026	Cancellation: First closing Cornwall bus operations	FIRST SOUTH WEST LIMITED

This isn’t all of them, but I’m sure the rest will follow soon. The second batch covers some of the replacements, along with a few more for Go Cornwall and their partner OTS.

Licence	Route	Start Point	End Point	Effective	Notes	Operator
PH0000135.362	96	Bodmin Parkway	Padstow	15-Feb-2026	timetable amendments: Selected journeys extended to Wadebridge Tesco (Mon–Fri).	PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD
PH0000135.376	484 485	Truro	Uplands	15-Feb-2026	Revised route and timetable to improve punctuality. Route 486 withdrawn	PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD
PH0000135.374	493	Truro	Feock	15-Feb-2026	Revised timetable for afternoon journeys	PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD
PH0000135.371	496	Malpas Circular	Malpas Circular	15-Feb-2026	Revised route and timetable to provide links to Truro Health Centre and Truro Railway station	PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD
PH1093399.024	33	St Keverne Square	Helston, Tesco	14-Feb-2026	REGISTRATION CANCELLED: Service renumbered to 36B – no changes to the current timetable (SEE PH1093399.027)	OFFICE & TRANSPORT SERVICES LTD

As usual, click through to see the timetables and other details for most of these registrations.

Looking back and forwards

This past week brought quite a few new notices, but most were about changes from back in November- one even dating as far back as September last year. Only two were for changes made in 2026, which, unfortunately, has become the norm lately.

Licence	Route	Start Point	End Point	Effective	Notes	Operator
PH0004983.170	1 1A	Penzance	Sennen Cove	05-Jan-2026	Timetable variation	FIRST SOUTH WEST LIMITED
PH0000135.407	7	St Just	Sennen Cove	03-Nov-2025	New Service	PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD
PH0000135.388	32 32A	Falmouth	Truro	03-Nov-2025	Revise journeys serving Truro College	PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD
PH0000135.277	96	Delabole	Wadebridge	03-Nov-2025	Journeys serving Sir James Smith School re - routed via St Teath	PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD
PH0000135.349	96A (96B)	Delabole	Sir James Smith School	03-Nov-2025	Revise route & timetable to avoid buses meeting in St Teath	PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD
PH0000135.390	271	Lostwithiel	Truro College	03-Nov-2025	Timetable Revision	PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD
PH0000135.394	275	Wadebridge	Truro College	03-Nov-2025	Timetable Change at Truro College request	PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD
PH0000135.395	276	Egloshayle	Truro College	03-Nov-2025	Timetable Change	PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD
PH0000135.408	278	St Columb Road	Truro College	03-Nov-2025	New Service	PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD
PH0000135.397	280	Marazion	Truro College	03-Nov-2025	Revised Route & Timetable Change	PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD
PH0000135.400	286	Truro College	Helston	03-Nov-2025	Route & Timetable Change	PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD
PH0000135.401	287	Nancledra	Truro College	03-Nov-2025	Revised route and Timetable	PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD
PH0000135.403	381	Redruth	Penwith College	03-Nov-2025	Timetable Change at Truro College request	PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD
PH0005305.041	694	HONITON, DOWELL STREET CAR PARK	HONITON, LACE WALK	04-Jan-2026	Variation to timetable.  NO TIMETABLE CHANGES PUBLISHED ON TRAVELINE	DEALTOP LIMITED
PH1020951.559	DC7	Plymouth City Centre	Duchy College Stoke Climsland	29-Sep-2025	To amend running times across the route to improve punctuality. The AM journey will be advanced by 15mins to give better direct connections.	STAGECOACH DEVON LTD

As usual, you can click through for full details, including complete route histories and timetables.

Speaking of timetable changes, the Cornwall Buses website offers a useful analysis of the replacement services from Go Cornwall when First withdraws next month. It’s an interesting read from someone who really knows the services.

His conclusion:

In summary, the proposed Go Cornwall Bus timetables will essentially cover the routes that First is giving up. However, frequencies will be reduced in many cases. In particular, on the T1 section between Penzance and Camborne and the T2 section between St Ives and Camborne, the frequency on Monday to Saturday services will be reduced from half-hourly to hourly. On Sundays, many of the routes that currently have an hourly service will only have a 2-hourly service in future. Overall, there will be a reduction in the service levels.

The full posting can be read HERE