Truro and Falmouth's Member of Parliament Cherilyn Mackrory has welcomed the Conservative Government's announcement of a revolutionary new bus strategy, backed by £3 billion of investment.

Piloted in Cornwall from 2020, the strategy that will see passengers across Truro and Falmouth benefiting from more frequent, more reliable, easier to use and understand, better coordinated and cheaper bus services.

The strategy requires Cornwall Council to work in partnership with bus operators to improve services for passengers in order to be eligible for funding in future.

Councils and operators will be expected to provide:

• Simpler single bus fares with daily price caps, so people can use the bus as many times a day as they need without facing mounting costs.

• More services in the evenings and at the weekends.

• Integrated services and ticketing across all transport modes in the area, so people can easily move from bus to train.

• Easy to access information, including online, so that services are simple to use.

• All buses to accept contactless payments.

Such improvements will be underpinned by fundamental reforms to the sector, and will see operators need to work with their local councils on targets for improving passenger numbers, reliability and passenger satisfaction, to be eligible for future government funding.

Only councils and operators who work to meet these requirements will continue to receive around £100 million per month emergency Covid funding for the sector, or any new sources of funding from the £3 billion investment.

Cherilyn added:

"Good bus services can have a transformational role in places like Truro and Falmouth unlocking job opportunities, boosting businesses and supporting economic growth.

"This new National Strategy Bus Strategy, backed by £3 billion, will help make to make this a reality – paving the way for simpler fares, more reliable services, and better connections across every part of the country."

Click here to see more from Cherilyn Mackrory.

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