Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport Baroness Vere of Norbiton has joined Go-Ahead to launch a county-wide tap and cap scheme for bus users in Cornwall.
The scheme caps daily and weekly fares at £5 and £20 respectively, regardless of the number of journeys customers may make in those timeframes. Charges are billed automatically when customers tap to board and tap to alight.
“At a time when many people are feeling the pinch, every potential saving matters. That is why we have provided more than £23m to help look at ways to make local bus services more affordable,” says Baroness Vere. “The brilliant tap and cap pilot will not only help reduce travel costs for people across Cornwall, but will also help encourage greater use of more sustainable ways of transport, while helping create a truly integrated local bus network.”
Adds Richard Stevens, Managing Director, Go South West: “As the county’s largest bus operator, operating over 100 routes and carrying 90,000 passengers per week – we’re proud to be part of the latest initiative to save customers money and encourage people to switch from their cars to the bus – increasing the use of public transport. Together, as part of Transport for Cornwall, we must continue to invest in change to make sure customers get the service they deserve.”
Go-Ahead is working with other bus companies and Transport for Cornwall to integrate a ticketing and travel network across the county. The new scheme comes after Go-Ahead’s investment into rural transport in the county, which it says totals some £25m since 2020.
Other initiatives include cutting ticket prices on buses in Cornwall by up to 40% under the Make Big Savings By Bus pilot, and the Any Ticket, Any Bus scheme, which made tickets interchangeable between Cornish operators.
