A NEW service from Liskeard to Derriford will be one of the ’emergency Covid-19 routes’ operated by buses in Cornwall, after passenger numbers dropped by more than 90 percent, writes local democracy reporter Richard Whitehouse.

With people staying at home apart from essential journeys, there has been a dramatic decrease in demand. Cornwall Council and bus operators say it is not possible to run a normal service. They’re prioritising services which provide transport for key workers, and those which take people to supermarkets and hospitals.

Geoff Brown, Cabinet member for Transport, said: ’The focus for our public bus services is on getting key workers to work and back home again.

’March 29 was our target to introduce an upgraded and fully integrated public transport network. ’But, understandably, patronage of all bus routes have fallen to an all-time low, with currently less than 10% of the normal numbers travelling. As a consequence, it is not viable and indeed prudent to operate a full public bus network.

’Instead, local bus services will be designed to help protect the NHS at this unprecedented time and to support the national government’s social distancing guidance.

’My team have been holding talks with First Kernow and Go-Ahead Cornwall over what level of bus service is to be offered – we have agreed on a ‘social need’ timetable which is an assortment of Saturday and Sunday timetable level of frequency. It’s not perfect but can be amended as we go on when we see what’s needed.

’The new timetable for the supported, more rural, routes run by ‘Transport for Cornwall’ was due to start on March 29 but, like the commercial services, will now also operate on a reduced service due to very low passenger numbers. The newly-planned service from South East Cornwall to Derriford Hospital will commence, however, as it is vital for many key workers in the NHS but again with a reduced service.’

The list of bus services now operating includes:

11 – Plymouth to Bodmin Parkway with stops including Liskeard and Saltash

11A – Bodmin Parkway to Padstow stops including Bodmin, Asda Bodmin, Bodmin Community Hospital, Wadebridge and Padstow Tesco

12 – Plymouth to Newport including stops at Saltash, Callington, Launceston Tesco and Launceston

70A – Plymouth to Torpoint to Cremyll

71 – Saltash to Liskeard including stops at Liskeard Morrisons

72 – Looe Bay Holiday Park to Polperro including stop at East Looe Surgery

73 – Liskeard to Polperro including stop at East Looe Surgery, East Looe and West Looe

74 – Liskeard to Callington including stops at Liskeard Morrisons and Liskeard Hospital

79 – Callington to Tavistock including stop at Callington Tesco

First Kernow services

27 – Truro to Bodmin including stops at Royal Cornwall Hospital, Treliske, St Austell and Bodmin Morrisons

87 – Newquay to Truro including stops at Newquay Morrisons, Perranporth, St Agnes and Royal Cornwall Hospital, Treliske