First Bus announced as winner of Truro park and ride service contract
19 September 2024

It seems that it is plus ça change on Truro’s park and ride service as it is announced that First Bus was the winner of the tendering process for the new contract. This follows First giving Cornwall Council 6 months’ notice in August 2023 to terminate the contract just 18 months into what was supposedly an eight year contract. First and the Council agreed an extension beyond the end of the 6 months’ notice period, then the Council put the whole contract out to tender again.

On 8 September, it was announced by CC that a new contract had been awarded but the name of the successful bidder was not disclosed. This was probably because there is a process whereby any unsuccessful bidder has 10 days in which to challenge the award of the contract. After that period, the successful bidder can be announced which is what has happened. The new contract is for just over 3 years from January 2025. Whether there is another clause allowing the bus company to terminate it at 6 months’ notice, we do not know.

In summary, the operation of the park and ride service will presumably continue little changed from the existing offering apart from the fact that fares have increased by 20% in the last 18 months, service frequency has reduced slightly and First is probably being paid considerably more than they were up until last year.

I cannot find a Cornwall Council news release on the awarding of the contract yet, but First have issued their release at First Truro park and ride.