Public Transport
Key Message:
Subject to the approval of the Buses Bill Cornwall Council will receive powers for
franchising all bus services in the area by 2018, enabling improvement in service
quality, integration, ticketing and bus infrastructure. We will work with bus
operators and review the improvements and only adopt the franchising model if
these cannot be achieved to bring about the proposed benefits for the travelling
public.
Aim
1. We want to put the customer at the heart of the public transport system –
deliver a public transport service that the user wants
2. Increase public transport patronage on bus & rail to bring about an upturn
in revenue to make services more financially viable
Key Asks in the Cornwall Deal
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CC takes responsibility for franchising bus services in Cornwall
CC has the power to deliver an integrated fare & ticketing structure within
Cornwall
All relevant central funding is devolved to CC as a multi-year settlement
What Do We Want To Do
To develop and agree a model to deliver effective integration of bus and local rail
services in Cornwall which will align timetabling and combine ticketing. This will
enable bus and train services to be planned in a joined up way, with tickets that
can be used across different modes and operators.
What Have We Done
We have been working with the Department for Transport, the Cabinet Office,
local bus and train operators to develop a model for greater integration of public
transport as part of Growth Deal. We have produced a Bus and Integrated
Transport Strategy which has been supported by the project partners. We are
now developing a pilot scheme for delivering this strategy within Cornwall that
may deliver within the existing governance framework. However, if this project
cannot deliver the aims of the strategy we would look for the ability to develop a
regulated bus market in Cornwall which keeps competition between operators,
by taking competition off the road and into a competition to deliver services.
Why Do We Want Change
The new Great Western rail franchise will deliver significant improvement in
quality, capacity and frequency on the mainline in Cornwall by 2018. CC needs
powers to de-centralise bus regulation to provide a sustainable future for bus
services by integrating bus with rail to create a better overall public transport
system.
Public transport in Cornwall does not currently represent a viable alternative to
car use in rural areas of Cornwall due to length of journey times, high costs and
difficulty in connecting with other services or modes of transport, particularly at
the start and end of the day.
Bus users generally travel by bus because they have no alternative available,
around 70% of bus users fall into this category. Non bus users do not travel by
bus because they prefer travelling by car due to the flexibility in travel this
provides.
A lack of joined up public transport can lead to isolation for those who have no
alternative. It can cut them off from services, education and employment.
Passengers will enjoy the ability to switch between services easily with an
affordable capped daily fare that does not ask the passenger to pay a premium
for being able to use more than one operator.
The bus and rail integration changes would be implemented to tie in with the
delivery of the new half hourly rail timetable for Cornwall which starts in 2018.
Benefits to Cornwall
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Delivery of an affordable, sustainable solution to the provision of bus
services in a rural area; putting the customer at the heart of the solution.
A solution that supports the bus network to meet the needs of people in
accessing health care, education and employment.
Maximising the benefits of bus network improvements by integrating
activities with rail improvements, such as the new signalling and half hour
service package supported in the Cornish Growth Deal.
The main benefits of this approach would be felt across the whole network, by
providing:
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Greater synergy between services in terms of connections, through
ticketing and information.
A more stable operating base for operators and a more attractive
operational environment;
More certainty over revenue funding for contracts;
An opportunity to improve quality by investing in the vehicles on the
network
Improved roadside waiting infrastructure
Greater service appeal
More cost-effective network
Particular outcomes for Cornwall of the proposal will be:
 reduced fare levels – better value for money across rail and bus services
 public transport network that is easy to understand and navigate
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a single convenient and affordable ticket for an entire journey
The removal of the ‘interchange penalty’ for users of public transport
increased patronage
improved ability to integrate bus services with community led transport
solutions
improved access to health services
reduced isolation and social benefits for those reliant on public transport
improvements in vehicle quality and infrastructure
greater stability and certainty for bus operators and the travelling public
increased service provision and network coverage
reduced cost of delivering bus services in Cornwall
greater communication between stakeholders
regular and straightforward connections between services and stages of a
journey
Relieving congestion on the road network by encouraging more journeys
by public transport