Cornish College Contracts

Catching up on some Cornish news over the last week or so

One of Cornwall's main bus operators could be shedding jobs after losing a major school contract. First Bus has told its staff that it applied for the Truro and Penwith College tender after the current contract came up for renewal.

Now a memo to staff, leaked to CornwallLive, confirms that the operator has lost the contract when it had hoped the new deal with the college would "revive the First Kernow business and ensure our sustainability long into the future".

The memo to staff, dated June 2, said the firm had hoped the college contract tender "would turn loss-making contracts into agreements that were more financially sustainable".

The message to staff added: "We know this may feel unsettling, as it marks another set of services that will end this year. However, this was the last re-tender results we were waiting on, and knowing its outcome does give us an option to look at other areas of the Cornish network we can invest in - such as further opportunities through Flixbus."

Last month, First Bus also announced its tender for the Cornwall College contract had not been successful with competitor Stagecoach expected to pick up the service from September.

The memo said that the final date of operation will be July 4, adding: "We are assessing the impact of this tender result, it is possible that TUPE may apply and affected employees may transfer to Go Cornwall Bus who won the contract. A meeting has been arranged with Go Cornwall Bus for later this week to discuss this."

The memo added: "We are already in discussions with Stagecoach regarding the school and Cornwall College contract secured by them and are reviewing the pool of employees in scope to TUPE over to them."

The routes affected by the Truro College contract loss are 390, 500, U1X, 100, 200, 300, 400, 470, 600, TCS, U4X, L1, L2, 950, 900, 273, 274, 850, 220, 950P, 271, 272, 890 and 200A.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/first-bus-loses-major-truro-and-penwith-college-contract-putting-jobs-at-risk/ar-AA1G0E9O

This is of course bad news for First who had already lost the Cornwall College contract to Stagecoach.

For Plymouth Citybus this probably helps cover the loss of their Callywith contracts to Stagecoach.

First have already put in cancellation notices for their services:

Licence	Route	Start Point	End Point
PH0004983.581	200:2	Penzance	Truro via Castle Gate, St Ives, Carbis Bay, Conner Downs
PH0004983.461	220	Penwithick	Truro via Bugle, Whitemoor, Nanpean, St Stephen, Grampound Rd
PH0004983.575	270:271:272:273:274	Mevagissey	Truro via St Austell Bus Station
PH0004983.404	271:272	Callington	St Austell via Lostwithiel
PH0004983.587	390	Camborne	Penwith via Connor Downs, Hayle, Leedstown, Goldsithney
PH0004983.454	400	Illogan	Truro via Mount Hawke, Blackwater, Portreath
PH0004983.617	470	Portreath	Truro via Redruth, Carharrack, Crofthandy, St Day
PH0004983.368	500	St Mawes	Truro via Tregony, Probus- Truro Centre
PH0004983.577	660	Brill Hillcrest	Truro via Mawnan Smith, Mabe Burnthouse, Penryn Campus, Mylor Bridge
PH0004983.188	850	Newquay	Truro via Treloggan, Goonhavern, Perranporth
PH0004983.195	890_1	Victoria Cornwall Services	Truro via Bodmin, Summercourt, Brighton Cross
PH0004983.410	890_2	Launceston	Victoria Cormwall Services via Bodmin, Summercourt, Brighton Cross
PH0004983.202	900:950A	Fraddon	Truro via St Columb Major, Padstow
PH0004983.406	900:950	Wadebridge	Fraddon via St Columb Major, Wadebridge
PH0004983.407	950	Boscastle	Wadebridge via St Columb Major, Wadebridge
PH0004983.618	950A	Fraddon	Truro via St Columb Major, Wadebridge
PH0005305.094	Coly 1	Fore St, Bradninch	Swan Hill Road, Colyford
PH0004983.367	L1:L2	Helston	Truro via Mullion, Cury, Flambards
PH0004983.427	L2_1	Coverack	Helston via St Kevern
PH0004983.447	L2_2	Lizard	Helston via Mullion, Cury, Flambards
PH0004983.576	U1X	Falmouth	Truro via Carnon Downs
PH0004983.629	V1	Truro, St Clements Parc	Truro, Railway Station

Stagecoach Expand

Stagecoach continue to make big gains of contracts across Devon and increasingly into Cornwall.

Jobs have been put a risk after First Bus lost the contract to operate Cornwall College routes.

From July 4, First Bus will no longer operate the Cornwall College contract which operated 19 routes.

In a statement issued to the Packet, First Bus said: “From July 4th First Bus will no longer operate the Cornwall College contract, following an unsuccessful retender. We are still assessing the impact of this change, and as such it is too early to comment.

“Our priority is our people, and we are supporting them as we look at our options. They will be the first to know of next steps.”

In a letter sent to employees, First Bus said the contract had been due to expire at the end of 24/25 of the academic year and they put in a bid re-tender.

Unfortunately they received notification that, while they achieved the highest score for the qualitive element, we were unsuccessful securing the contract.

The services impacted are BC26, BC25, BC22, BC23, BC24, DC01, DC02, DC3, DC4, DC05, DC06, DC07, DC08, DC09, EDCO, ST01, ST02, ST03 and CPR1.

The final date of the operation is expected to be July 4.

In the letter the company said the college contract was heavily loss making.

“The college contract was heavily loss making especially as our industry continues to see escalation in operating costs above the headline inflation figure,” it said.

“Although we are disappointed to be unsuccessful in the retender, this does give us an option to look at other areas of the Cornish network we can invest in – such as further opportunities through Flixbus.”

They say they are assessing the impact of the tender result it is possible that affected employees may transfer over to a new employer under TUPE, Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006.

The company says it is in conversation with its union reps and will be looking at options to retain staff in employment, whether that’s in the south west or elsewhere in the company or under the new contractor. It says it will consult with employees when they know.

“We understand this is disappointing news and that some of you may be worried about how this impacts you,” said the letter.

Its not just First Group – Go Ahead have also lost out with the Callywith contracts also moving to Stagecoach from July – Plymouth Citybus  have already put in the cancellation notices for the services from 8th July.

Callywith Timetable Booklet

Its taken a while to get them online but Go Cornwall have now got their annual timetable booklet for Callywith College service

The new timetable is available here to download although this link onlt goes to the service list – you then need to click on the service number the go top right and select a PDF to view – which then goes to the new booklet online!

Bit of a faff but hopefully there are plenty of printed booklets out there for the students who use these services.

You could just go to my Library to download the booklet

Citybus College Changes and some others

I was expecting a large batch of registration changes to come through for Plymouth Citybus at some stage – and that has happened today:

Plymouth Citybus Ltd

Licence	Route	Start Point	End Point	Effective	Notes
PH0000135.231	26	St Austell	Bodmin	01-Sep-2024	revise times for Penrice School & Bodmin College No significant changes however, disruption is expected to continue through the winter as a consequence of the A391 Link Road Works.
PH0000135.240	39A	Camborne	Penzance	02-Sep-2024	Revise times for Penzance schools [No significant changes.]
PH0000135.308	46A	Camborne	Barncoose Hospital	02-Sep-2024	Extend journeys from Illogan to Barncoose Hospital. Renumber journeys service Pool Academy to 46A
PH0000135.274	49A 48, 49, 49S	Troon	Redruth	01-Sep-2024	Service terminates Redruth Rail Station, not Barncoose Hospital. Journeys serving Pool Academy renumbered 49A. Principalchanges to improve reliability
PH0000135.247	58	Newquay	Newquay	02-Sep-2024	Revised timetable
PH0000135.248	59	RAF St Mawgan	RAF St Mawgan	02-Sep-2024	A revised timetable will be introduced following consultation with RAF St Mawgan.
PH0000135.163	73 73A	Polperro	Liskeard	01-Sep-2024	The timetable will revert back to the winter level of service with no significant changes.
PH0000135.165	74 174	Callington	Liskeard	02-Sep-2024	0750 from Callington back extended to Gunnislake Rail Station. Route & timetable amended accordingly 74 No significant changes. 174Route revised to start from Callington.  A revised timetable will be introduced.
PH0000135.302	84	Trelander Circular	Trelander Circular	02-Sep-2024	Changes to timetable due to changes to other services.
PH0000135.250	85	Truro	Newquay	01-Sep-2024	Revised timetable following completion of A30 roadworks & revised route in Newquay
PH0000135.252	88	Newquay	Redruth	02-Sep-2024	Revise route in Newquay. Serve Redruth School. Revise route and timetable accordingly
PH0000135.336	90	Wadebridge	Truro	02-Sep-2024	Revise terminal points: Truro Bus Station to Newquay Airport. Revise timetable accordingly
PH0000135.337	92 (92S)	Newquay	Wadebridge	01-Sep-2024	First journey from Wadebridge retimed to make connection at St Columb Major with bus to Truro
PH0000135.255	93S (91, 94, 93E)	Truro	Newquay	01-Sep-2024	Revise timetable following completion of A30 road works. Renumber certain journeysas 93S
PH0000135.256	95A (95, 181)	Wadebridge	Bude	01-Sep-2024	Retime services for revised schooldays at Budehaven & Sir James Smith schools. Add service 95A
PH0000135.257	95	Wadebridge	Bude	01-Sep-2024	Revised times for changed school times
PH0000135.277	96 (96S, 95)	Bodmin	Wadebridge	01-Sep-2024	Service 96A renumbered as service 96. Timetable changed for revised saschool day at Sir James Smith School
PH0000135.349	96A (96B)	Delabole	Sir James Smith School	02-Sep-2024	Revised school day at Sir James Smith school
PH0000135.190	171	Downderry	Callywith College	02-Sep-2024	Revise service number, route and terminal pointssplit registration with /189 Route revised to start from Downderry and will no longer serve Lostwithiel.  A revised timetable will be introduced.
PH0000135.344	173	Looe	Callywith College	02-Sep-2024	Cancel
PH0000135.192	175 176 177 178	Callywith College	Launceston	02-Sep-2024	Revised times for Callywith College. New service number 175. South Petherwin no longer served
PH0000135.191	179	Gunnislake	Callywith College, Bodmin	02-Sep-2024	Revise route & timetable Route revised to start from Tavistock.  A revised timetable will be introduced.
PH0000135.193	180	Bude	Callywith College, Bodmin	02-Sep-2024	Revise times
PH0000135.194	180 (181, 96)	Wadebridge	Bodmin	02-Sep-2024	Revised times at Sir James Smith school. REvise timetable. Service 96A journeys renumbered as 96
PH0000135.309	185	Newquay	Callywith College	02-Sep-2024	Revise timetable
PH0000135.205	187	Fowey	Callywith College, Bodmin	02-Sep-2024	Revise route in Tywardreath & revise times
PH0000135.195	188	Lanjeath	Callywith College	02-Sep-2024	Revise timetable
PH0000135.206	189	Biscovey	Callywith College	02-Sep-2024	Revise times
PH0000135.298	190	Mevagissey	Callywith College, Bodmin	02-Sep-2024	Revise times
PH0000135.265	219 218 128	Marhamchurch	Poughill	02-Sep-2024	Revise times for Budehaven School

Stagecoach Devon Ltd

Licence	Route	Start Point	End Point	Effective	Notes
PH1020951.040	38	Ivybridge	Bovey Tracey	19-Aug-2024	Route variation due to RTO for Station Road in Bovey Tracey. Work starts on Mon 19th Aug and due to end on Fri 4th October 2024.
PH1020951.429	91	Dartmouth Park & Ride	Dartmouth Pontoon	18-Aug-2024	One Bus 20min frequency – Mar 29th to April 14th, May 17th to May 19th , June 3rd to July 21st, Sept 2nd to Sept 15th.  Two Bus 10min frequency most of day, with 20min frequency lunchtime, May 25th to June 2nd, July 22nd to Sept 1st, Oct 25th to Oct 27th  Additional evening frequency for Music Festival May 17th to May 19th Inc, and Regatta Aug 31st .
PH1020951.052	C	Sowton	Matford Park & Ride	01-Sep-2024	Service Green will become known as Service C, and working with Service B will provide a co-ordinated frequency between Matford Park and Ride and the City Centre. The new timetables will see buses operate a combined 10 minute frequency Monday to Friday. On Saturday, Service C will be revised to every 30 minutes, with a combined 15 minute frequency over the common sections of route with Service B.

The vast majority of the Cornish changes are clearly college services, if these were stripped out there are not that many changes!

As usual you can click through on the licence numbers above but dont expect much there yet for these latest changes as I have a lot of processing to get through. not helped by the way quite a few of the new timetables are split over several different registrations.