THE project commissioning officer for the One Public Transport System for Cornwall, Nick Truscott, gave a presentation and answered questions on the subject at Bude Community Network Panel’s latest meeting at the Parkhouse Centre on Monday, April 30.

The One Public Transport System for Cornwall (OPTSfC) has been identified as one of the key deliverables under the ‘Cornwall Devolution Deal.’

The significant aim of this project is to deliver and provide a fully integrated and sustainable public transport network, following the devolution of bus powers under the Bus Services Bill, which received Royal Assent in April 2017.

Cornwall Council states that the key drivers or objectives of the project are:

l To provide a public transport system that integrates bus travel with rail travel, building on the intended upgrading of the mainline rail service to half hourly from 2019;

l To provide integrated smart ticketing, fares and timetables to deliver combined travel between bus, rail and ferry services for passengers in Cornwall, and air where achievable;

l To provide a high quality, accessible and integrated public transport network, developed to increase patronage on bus and rail and bring about an upturn in revenue income and service sustainability.

Mr Truscott, Cornwall Council Team Leader (Planning and Contract Management) also explained that train services will see upgraded sleeper services, a new maintenance service at Long Rock near Penzance, mainline service enhancements and a new service which will see two trains an hour leave from Penzance to Plymouth.

The changes give local authorities the opportunity to have a say over how the bus services are operated in the area, which in turn will see them be able to decide which bus services are run and when, what type of ticket will be available and how much it should cost.

Mr Truscott said: “This allows the local authority and our operators to work together and agree standards, including vehicle specification, tickets and service frequency.”

He discussed the group’s principles and progress to date which includes customer focus, improving appeal of public transport as well as promising to deliver — new vehicles, improved infrastructure, smart ticketing, real time passenger information, image and branding, the formation of a steering group and the establishing of reporting mechanisms including internal to the council, external to the Local Transport Board, Local Enterprise Partnership and Central Government.

Small steps have already been undertaken with ‘showcase areas’ identified, vehicle trials undertaken, on street infrastructure, which includes the upgrading of existing RTPI displays, solar RTPI signs and digital timetabling, Totem Units to be installed at strategic stops and interchanges and consistent infrastructure standard and design.

Other examples trialled so far include e-ticketing with scholars, the development of an app and trials of audio stop announcement.

Customer experience was Mr Truscott’s last topic of discussion including talking about a customer charter, having a single point of contact at a bus company, feedback sessions, training courses for staff on the buses, codes of conduct including safeguarding and DBS checks and improving connectivity.”

Mr Truscott told the audience how this would affect Bude residents.

He said: “There will be new buses for the 95 and 96 services to Wadebridge as well as updated vehicles on the Stagecoach to Exeter and the Plymouth City Bus Service (12) to Launceston.

“There will also be real time public information areas planned at key locations and it’ll be easier ticketing as well, there’ll be no need to have correct fare.”

Mr Truscott asked whether anyone had any questions.

Bude-Stratton town councillor, Julia Bryson said: “Thank you for what you have told us. Is there anything you looked at which you’ve discarded?”

Mr Truscott replied: “We have limited funding and the target areas are the ones which will have the big benefit, which is West Cornwall but it’s coming to East Cornwall later in the year.”

Cllr Bryson said: “Will you be keeping the double deckers here in Bude?” to which Mr Truscott replied: “To my knowledge there is no intention to change the vehicle types.”

Cllr Bryson talked about the subject of seatbelts on buses and the fact that you don’t have to wear one, adding: “It takes two hours to get to Exeter or Plymouth on the bus, do you think they’ll ever come in?

Mr Truscott replied: “Not at the moment, they’re not compulsory,” before Cllr Bryson replied: “You get my idea, you get penalised going in the road, yet you can spend two hours on a bus without one.”

Connect Bude’s Mike Moore was the next to quiz Mr Truscott. He said: “I’m quite pleased with what I’ve heard. About the railways development, I’m glad that you’ve supported it, especially the two half hour services. What plans do you have for Bude? And also what plans are there to connect Bude and Okehampton for the three-year trial which could start in 2019?”

Mr Truscott replied: “Regarding Okehampton, it will be between Cornwall Council, Stagecoach and Devon County Council.”

Mr Moore added: “Do you connect with Devon County Council?”, to which Cllr Truscott said: “Discussions will happen when the time is right and when we’re certain of the start date.”

Mr Moore then asked about improving links between Bude and Bodmin, adding: “What about the link to Bodmin Parkway?”

Mr Truscott replied: “We’ve looked at it. There are key areas and I have to look at networks and ticketing. I have done a lot of designing and North Cornwall is a particularly hard area due to the lack of population density.”

Mr Moore agreed, saying: “We have a lot of routes, but it’s a question of making them popular so it then becomes viable.”

Week St Mary Parish Council’s Bill Pearce asked what the plans are for his village and Jacobstow, to which Mr Truscott said: “We’re looking at models. At the moment we provide one service a day, which is very limited. We’re looking to give more availability but it’s one area we’ve not done a lot on yet.”

Cllr Pearce replied: “The few who do use it value it and are afraid to lose it. I know at least one person who fears they’ll have to move if it goes.”

Mr Truscott replied: “It’s secure at the moment but we’ll have to see what happens.”

The outgoing mayor of Bude, Peter Moores, who was representing the town council at the meeting, said: “The problem we have is that we’ve got to work with Devon County Council so that the Bude to Okehampton express service happens quickly. But in North Cornwall we feel short changed. The ‘golden triangle’ gets everything and we’re being short changed up here. We pay the same tax as people in Truro and Falmouth.

“We also need to support Devon County Council to get the Exeter to Plymouth via Tavistock going and make sure that Cornwall isn’t short changed.”