Bus fares from Sunday 12 April

Bus fares from Sunday 12 April

Over recent years, bus fares in Cornwall have been subsidised in one of two ways. Single journeys are currently capped at £3 through the Government’s national bus fare cap scheme (which remains in place until March 2027), while other journeys have been subsidised through Cornwall Council’s reduced fares pilot.

Reduced fares pilot 

Cornwall Council was awarded £23.5m from the Department for Transport to deliver a reduced fares pilot in Cornwall. This four-year pilot meant we could significantly cut the cost of bus fares in Cornwall, as well as trial new ticket options for people making regular journeys.

The funding was used to reimburse bus operators the difference between the fare a passenger paid and the fare the operator would have charged in the absence of the pilot. 

Over the past four years, more than 12million tickets have been sold and over 23 million million journeys made using discounted tickets offered through the pilot and the national bus fare cap. 

What changes will come into effect from 12 April 2026?

With funding for the pilot now ending, some fares will need to increase from 12 April so that Cornwall’s bus services can remain sustainable into the future.

We are very aware of the vital role our bus services provide in helping you travel to work and education, as well as access healthcare and leisure. As a partnership, we remain committed to doing our best to keep buses accessible, affordable and sustainable.

Single and return tickets

The Government’s national fare cap remains in place until March 2027 – this means a single fare will cost you no more than £3. 

Shorter distance tickets will remain at £2.50 for adults and £2 for under 19s. We’re introducing a new fare for shorter journeys of around 2 to 4 miles – this will cost £2.80 for adults and £2.50 for under 19s.

More details about the cost of single and return journeys from 12 April:

Discounted tickets

We have various ticket options which reduce the cost for regular bus users – including Cornwall day and week tickets which offer unlimited travel across our bus network, as well as town day and week for those making shorter journeys within a town. The table below shows the current prices and how these will change from 12 April. As you will see in the table, the majority of these ticket options will remain at this price until March 2027, with the exception of the child and young people four-week subscription tickets, which will see an increase , but only in July. 

Four week subscription ticket

From 12 April we will be introducing a new ticket for adults, giving unlimited travel in Cornwall over a four-week period. This ticket, which offers a saving on the weekly ticket, works in the same way as a subscription and auto renews every four weeks. 

Child and 16-18 monthly ticket

This ticket will remain available and at the current price until 26 July 2026 After this date, you will be able to buy either a weekly ticket or a four weekly subscription ticket. Those tickets will continue to offer a saving on the weekly ticket, and work in the same way as a subscription and auto renews every four weeks. 

19-25 year old discount

We will continue to offer discounted travel for 19 to 25 year olds. 

Full details of ticket options and prices: