Catching up on some transport news for Cornwall:
Its Unfare…
The recent announcement of fare increases has not gone down well:
Cornwall Live readers have voiced their concern following a recent bus fare increase, marking the second such rise in four months. This hike has particularly troubled parents who depend on public transport for their children's journey to school.
Bus fares across Cornwall are set to soar for the second time in just four months, leaving hundreds of passengers, particularly families with children, facing even tougher challenges amidst the cost of living crisis. Go Cornwall Bus, operating under Transport for Cornwall and overseen by Cornwall Council, has declared that from the end of September, ticket prices will rise for both adults and children on most services.
https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/news-opinion/cornwall-bus-fares-rocket-one-9590237
On 1 October, Go Cornwall Bus sent out two emails in quick succession to Geoff Cadwallader, chair of Rame Peninsula Public Transport User Group, with their explanation of the fare increases, although neither email directly addressed the impact on families whose fares for school travel have increased so substantially.
http://www.cornwallbuses.org.uk/bus-fares-increasing-from-29-september.html
National Distress
Users of a coach service between south-west England and London have lost a "lifeline" after the decision to axe it, supporters of it say.
The National Express 503 service used to run from Penzance to the capital - stopping in towns including Camborne, Newquay and Launceston - but has not run since the start of September
North Cornwall MP Ben Maguire has launched a petition, external to argue for the service to be reinstated.
National Express said it recognised local people's disappointment but it had to stop it as it was not financially viable.
Liberal Democrat MP Mr Maguire said he would raise the issue with the transport secretary as soon as he returned to parliament.
He said: "This is going to have a massive impact on my constituents and that is why I have immediately started this campaign to reinstate it.
"It's totally unacceptable. We already have such abysmal transport infrastructure in North Cornwall and now this vital link has been taken away from us."
A spokesperson for National Express said: "This change is part of a comprehensive review of our national network and unfortunately the 503 service is commercially unviable.
