Changes to bus services hope to improve punctuality

A RAFT of changes to bus services across the county are set to come into effect next month.

Many will focus on the corridor between Falmouth and Truro, where the frequency of buses will increase from every half an hour to every 15 minutes.

Bigger buses are also being brought in to help cope with the increased demand for travel.

The moves come as First Devon and Cornwall completes the integration of Truronian into the rest of its network.

From May 3, when the changes come into effect, the numbers of all the old Truronian services will change as the prefix 'T' is removed.

In some cases, the routes of services will also be altered as old Truronian and First routes are merged.

A mixture of commercial services and those run under contract to Cornwall Council will be affected. First says most of the changes focus on delivering improvements in punctuality and reliability.

As well as rebranding all old Truronian buses with the First logo and colours, bus drivers will wear pin badges featuring the St Piran flag and the First logo as part of their uniform.

Marc Reddy, managing director of First Devon and Cornwall, said:

"We believe these changes will benefit most people in Cornwall, so we are celebrating their introduction as well as our own Cornish heritage."

One of the more significant changes taking place will see Service T7 (Truro to Camborne) replaced by two routes, meaning customers making longer journeys will need to change buses at Truro.

First says the change will help improve punctuality and reliability.

Service 88 (Royal Cornwall Hospital – Truro – Tremough –Penryn – Falmouth) will run every 15 minutes, meaning more options for those travelling to and from Truro and the Combined Universities of Cornwall's Woodlane Campus.

But Service T3 (the Lizard Rambler), a tendered service currently operated by First on behalf of Cornwall Council, will no longer run. Parishes of Mawgan, Manaccan, St Anthony, St Keverne or St Martin will instead be served by East Lizard Dial–A-Ride service to Helston (Mondays to Fridays).

Three free booklets, detailing the changes in Falmouth and Truro and surrounding areas, areas around Camborne and Redruth and Helston, Lizard and Mullion, are available to download from the First Devon and Cornwall website, or to pick up from First Travel shops from mid April.

Alternatively a special First information bus will be on hand to provide more information for customers in Truro Lemon Quay between 27 April and 2 May.