Tenders have been invited for city park and ride

Prospective Truro Park and Ride (P&R) operators have been invited to tender to provide the service for three years from January 2025.

The future (P&R) was uncertain as current operator First gave Cornwall Council six months’ notice to terminate the contract from August 2023.

An agreement has been reached between First and Cornwall Council to extend the service – which is worth £4.5m and provides 60,000 passenger journeys a month – until the end of this year.

The P&R now reaches a critical stage with the announcement that the council is inviting tenders to provide the service from 17 January 2025 to 31 March 2028. The bus service has terminals at either end of the town, with 1,379 parking spaces at Tregurra and 1,209 at Langarth .

The council owns eight buses which are leased to the operator to provide the service and are maintained, fueled and insured by the operator.

The new tender notice reveals that thanks to government funding, the council will bring seven electric buses into service to upgrade the fleet and install charging infrastructure on car parks and rides.

Bidders are also encouraged to outline plans for better use of the terminal buildings and demonstrate how through this contract they “can bring social value to Cornwall”. Could this mean ticket offices will now become cafes, restaurants or other retail businesses?

The announcement adds that the council aims for the P&R “to be seen as the mode of travel of choice for residents, visitors and commuters when accessing Truro. We are looking for an operator who shares our vision that Truro Park & ​​Ride is a flagship service, providing a reliable, regular and affordable travel option in Truro.”

The service currently operates from 6.30am to 7.30pm, Monday to Saturday, with buses every ten to 15 minutes at peak times to suit the needs of commuters and visitors.

The service route covers key destinations including Truro College, Royal Cornwall Hospital, New County Hall and the city centre.

For more details see the purchase document here.