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Concerns Rise Over Bus Service Changes Impacting Students in Cornwall
Students residing in some of the most rural areas of Cornwall are facing significant disruptions due to recent changes to bus routes. The alterations involve the cancellation of a bus service operated by Stagecoach South West, which had been running under contract to Cornwall College Group. This route previously connected Pendeen in West Cornwall to Duchy College Rosewarne in Camborne but was discontinued at the end of the term.
As a result of the service’s removal, students from remote locations are now required to travel to Penzance hours earlier to access alternative transport. In a similar move, a bus service, which served students commuting from Falmouth to Truro and Penwith College, has also been completely scrapped. Parents have expressed that these changes have led to “chaos.”
Jasmine Harvey, a resident of St Just, shared that her 17-year-old daughter now has to leave home three hours before her college day starts to ensure she arrives on time due to the modifications made by Stagecoach. She described the situation as shocking, stating, “So many kids relied on that service to then just be told ‘we’re not going to run it anymore’… a lot of them will just have been left high and dry.”
The CC1 bus service, which once passed through Pendeen and St Just, is now only operating from Penzance. This change forces Ms. Harvey’s daughter to catch a bus at 6.40 am, followed by a wait of more than half an hour for a connecting bus operated by the college.
Ms. Harvey highlighted that the previous service was a “lifeline” for students, especially those with special educational needs, who now face longer waits between buses. She expressed concern over the impact during the winter months, noting that it would mean “a long cold wet wait in the winter for many many students.”
Stacey Guthrie, another parent, reported that her daughter previously used the tendered bus from Falmouth to reach Truro and Penwith College. She stated that the alternative of using the train was not a feasible option, labelling the situation as chaotic and expressing the expectation that students should have reliable public transport to college.
Authorities have suggested that affected students consider using local trains, with free shuttle buses being provided between Truro rail station and the college’s campus. However, concerns about accessibility and feasibility remain.
Truro and Penwith College acknowledged the issues arising from the changes, apologising and noting that there would be a settling-in period. A spokesperson stated, “The college reviews its transport network ahead of each academic year to balance student demand, available capacity, safety, route viability and the wider public transport services operating across Cornwall.” They assured that they are working with transport providers to monitor new demand, enhance capacity, and adjust services as necessary.
Stagecoach confirmed that the CC1 service is continuing to operate under contract to Cornwall College Group, now limited to Penzance Bus Station. According to a spokesperson, this adjustment was made following a strategic review that assessed student demand, distances, and operating costs. Alternative transport options are available through Go Cornwall, which operates between Pendeen, St Just, and Penzance.
Both the college and Stagecoach are committed to reviewing the transport arrangements to support student travel needs effectively.
