Changes to bus tickets in Cornwall: 'Any ticket, any bus'

Bus companies in the Duchy have come together and will now accept each other’s tickets, meaning people will now be able to jump on and off any bus, no matter who it’s operated by.

Previously, passengers with a return or a multi-journey ticket would be restricted to only using buses run by the company they bought it from.

However, from the beginning of this month they can now use that same ticket on any bus operator within Cornwall. Passengers will be able to use their bus ticket on Cornwall by Kernow, Go Cornwall Bus, Stagecoach, Hopleys, OTS and Travel Cornwall.

In addition, all young people under the age of 19 will now benefit from half price fares, seeing local town zone fares drop to just £1.50 a day.

It is hoped the 'Any ticket, any bus' initiative, which is led by the Transport for Cornwall partnership, will open up the bus network for residents across the region, offering greater convenience and cheaper travel.

The scheme excludes Truro and Penwith College passes, Falmouth & Exeter University passes and use on Truro Park & Ride.

Richard Stevens, managing director of Go Cornwall Bus, said: "This is a big first step to better value bus travel in Cornwall. Not only does this make travelling around Cornwall by bus easier, for many it will make it cheaper."

Richard Stevens, managing director of Go Cornwall Bus, and Simon Goff, managing director of Cornwall by Kernow

Simon Goff, managing director for Cornwall by Kernow, agreed: “This partnership is truly innovative; we’re all coming together with one clear aim, to make things easier for customers across the county. Our future plans will help transform public transport in Cornwall and we’re really proud to be a part of it. Any ticket any bus is just the start!”

And Mike Watson, managing director for Stagecoach South West, said: “Stagecoach is delighted to be an integral part of the Cornwall network. It is great that we are now accepting other operator tickets for travel within Cornwall, and that our tickets are now valid on other operators buses too.”

Transport for Cornwall is made up of local bus and train operators, working with Cornwall Council with the aim of providing a quality transport network that’s simple to use and better value for money, with the overall goal of seeing people take more 'green' journeys.

Over the next few months, the operators, along with Cornwall Council, will be introducing a variety of schemes including a bus fares pilot backed by the Department for Transport, which will see fares reduce further across the county.

Philip Desmonde, Cornwall Council cabinet portfolio holder for transport, described it as "a great step forward, adding: “Better value fares are central to the council’s recently developed Bus Service Improvement Plan, developed in partnership with operators. This is the first step on a journey which will see buses fully support the delivery of a low carbon Cornwall and provide vital, affordable connections for our communities.”

The partnership will also be rolling out 'tap on/tap off' technology.