Public transport in Cornwall has received a significant boost with the Chancellor’s promise of a £23.5m funding package over the next four years for a ‘Reduced Bus Fares’ pilot to support the Council’s commitment to improving bus and rail services. 

Cornwall Council cabinet portfolio holder for transport Geoff Brown said: ‘One of the issues for our residents is the cost of using buses to get around.  So we put forward a case to the Department for Transport to help us encourage people to use the buses by reducing bus fares. 

‘If more people use the buses the plan is, that over the four years of the pilot project, the lower cost of fares becomes financially sustainable.  More journeys by bus means more fares being paid which means keeping fares down.’

 Due to begin in May 2020, Cornwall is the first rural area to be given the opportunity to run and fund a pilot scheme to bring down the cost of travelling by bus.  The pilot will run for four years from May 2020.