First Bus has confirmed plans to withdraw all its bus services in Cornwall and the closure of all five of its depots in the county on 14 February 2026.
The operator currently runs 14 services via 85 buses in Cornwall from its Camborne, Falmouth, Penzance, Summercourt and Truro garages.
Citing “financial challenges” for the decision, First Bus says 275 jobs are at risk as a result of the proposals. It adds how it has met with “above-inflation costs”, increased competition and a 21% year-on-year fall in passenger volume, which followed a 13% drop the previous year.
Efforts will be made by the business to find other roles for the affected staff within First Bus and parent company FirstGroup, with “next steps” provided before Christmas. First Bus’s services in Cornwall will operate as normal until closure date, the operator says.
Rival operator Go Cornwall has confirmed an interest in adapting its services to try to ensure all communities affected are served.
First Bus says it had made “extensive efforts” to cut costs and increase business, including making changes to the network and closing smaller outstations such as Helston. However, it adds that the “heavily loss-making” business is no longer financially viable.
Simon Goff, Managing Director for First Bus South, says: “This was an extremely difficult decision, which was made after all other options were exhausted. We understand this news will be deeply disappointing for our colleagues and passengers, and we want to thank everyone who has travelled with us over the years.
“Our proposal to exit the market in Cornwall isn’t a process that we have entered into lightly.
“Above-inflation costs, changing travel patterns and recently an increasingly competitive market all added extra pressure. We cannot afford to continue with such a heavily loss-making business.
“These plans do not in any way detract from the commitment of our colleagues, who have worked tirelessly to provide the best possible service to local communities in Cornwall. Now, supporting our people through this process is our priority.
“Wherever possible we are working to offer options or transfer colleagues to alternative employment.”
Go Cornwall set to step in
Go Cornwall Bus, part of the Go-Ahead Group, has made a statement revealing plans to consider revising its network in the county.
Richard Stevens, Managing Director of Go Cornwall, says: “We understand how concerning this news will be for residents who rely on these routes every day. Our message today is simple and clear: no community will be left unserved.”
Go Cornwall says it is designing a revised network to ensure communities, major employment sites, education, health and key destinations are served after next February.
No community will be left unserved – Go Cornwall
Mr Stevens adds: “We want people to know that any area currently served by these routes will continue to have access to bus services.
“While the network will not be replicated like-for-like, we will ensure alternative or amended services are in place. Our priority is to keep Cornwall connected.”
OTS Falmouth, which provides seven services in the area, says in a statement it is too soon to comment on any plans with regards to adapting its network.
“We are saddened to hear the news shared by our colleagues at FirstGroup earlier today,” says OTS Falmouth Bus Services Manager Craig George. “Cornwall is a small place, and our industry even smaller. All of us here have good friends working within First locally and we sympathise with them in these uncertain times and wish them well, especially as we approach the festive season.
“We are also saddened to think of the loss of the rich history of Western National which is now also in its final chapter with this news.
“We hope that the rich tapestry of professionalism and experience held within the operational teams at First is not lost with the closure of the business and all find further employment within the local industry.”
First Bus’s routes in Cornwall include Truro-Newquay, Penzance-Truro, Falmouth-Truro and Falmouth-Penzance.
Its 1 and 1A services are the only bus connections to Land’s End, operating between that busy tourist destination and Penzance seven days per week.
Fate of Summercourt public charging hub unclear
Among the depots set to close is Summercourt, in which First recently invested £1 million for battery-electric charging infrastructure. When the purpose-built charging hub opened in April 2024 with eight rapid chargers, it became the operator’s first depot to make charging available to the public.
First says: “Although First Bus will stop using its depots on 14 February 2026, there are currently no final plans for their use after this date.”
