Last updated: 11 September 2026
Dear Students, Parents and Carers,
Important update regarding College bus passes, bolt-on tickets and college bus services
At the start of the academic year, students were given the option to purchase a Truro and Penwith College bus pass, providing access to our dedicated college bus services. Students also had the option to purchase a bolt-on ticket, which provides access to the wider public bus network across Cornwall.
The bolt-on ticket was introduced to provide additional flexibility outside of the college day, for example, for travel between college activities, in the evenings, at weekends and during holidays. It was not intended to replace the use of the college’s dedicated bus services during the main college travel periods.
Go Cornwall are currently experiencing significant pressure on the public bus network, with some services becoming over capacity as students who have a college bus pass and bolt-on ticket are choosing to use public services instead of their allocated college bus.
At the same time, some of our dedicated college bus services are operating with available capacity. This is particularly problematic because students currently on waiting lists for these services are unable to purchase a college bus pass, as the service is showing as full.
What is changing?
To help address this issue and ensure that our bus capacity is being used effectively and fairly, from Monday 14th September 2026, bolt-on tickets will not be valid for travel before 9.00am.
Students who hold both a college bus pass and a bolt-on ticket will therefore need to use their dedicated college bus service for journeys before 9.00am. The bolt-on ticket can continue to be used from 9.00am onwards, including for travel during the day, evenings, weekends and holidays.
Please ensure you have the correct ticket for your journey!
We would also like to remind students that the dedicated college bus services operate under exclusive college contracts. This means that a standard public network ticket, including a bolt-on/network ticket, cannot be used to board these services.
Students wishing to travel on a dedicated college service must hold the correct college bus pass for that service.
We have allowed a grace period at the start of the academic year to give students and families time to understand the arrangements and ensure they have the appropriate ticket.
This grace period ends on Sunday 13th September 2026. From Monday 14th September 2026, drivers will be required to check that students boarding college contract services have the correct college bus pass.
Students attempting to board a college contract service using a public network ticket or bolt-on ticket will be unable to travel and will need to make alternative arrangements.
Please check your ticket/pass before travelling to ensure you are using the correct service and have the appropriate ticket for your journey.
This change is intended to:
- Reduce overcrowding on the public bus network during peak morning travel times.
- Ensure students make appropriate use of the dedicated college services they have purchased.
- Release capacity on college services for students currently waiting for a place.
- Ensure that students travelling on college contract services have the correct ticket.
- Help us make the most effective use of the college bus network.
What if you would prefer to use the public bus network?
If a student does not wish to use their dedicated college bus service and would prefer to travel exclusively on the public bus network, they can request a refund for their college bus pass. They would then be able to use the refund to purchase an appropriate public network bus pass directly.
Importantly, returning the college pass will also allow us to release that capacity and make it available to another student who needs to use the dedicated college service.
Bus tracking
The Truro College bus services are now available on the Transport for Cornwall app, following an agreement with Cornwall Council.
The services will be available to view and track from Monday 14th September, following the next update to the app data.
To find them, look at the bottom of the Timetables section of the TfC app or website. When looking at dates from next week onwards, the college services and their timetable information will appear.
Please note that these services are clearly marked as:
“This is a closed contract and not available to the public.”
The college services are being moved into a dedicated “Truro College” section within the app, which will make them easier for students and parents to find.
We appreciate that these arrangements may require some students and families to adjust their travel arrangements. However, with increasing pressure on public bus capacity and students waiting for spaces on college services, we believe these measures are necessary to ensure that the network operates effectively and fairly for everyone.
We would therefore ask all students and parents/carers to check their current travel arrangements and ensure that the correct ticket or pass is being used before Monday 14th September 2026.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Last updated: 8 September 2026
Thank you to our students and parents and carers for their patience and understanding while we respond to increased demand for College transport.
The beginning of the academic year is normally a settling-in period while student numbers and travel patterns become established. Some services have been busier than anticipated, and we are continuing to work closely with our transport providers to increase capacity and help students travel safely and reliably.
We have now introduced the following additional services and travel options.
1. Truro Train Station shuttle buses
2. Additional coach on the 286 Helston to Truro College route
3. Further guidance for 277 Newquay to Truro College bus pass holders
4. New Mevagissey bus and rail travel option from Monday 14 September
5. Additional GWR road transport from Penzance to Truro College
Further details about each of these changes can be found at the end of this message.
We hope these additional arrangements will make travelling to and from College easier. We will continue monitoring demand and working with our transport providers as student travel patterns settle.
A polite reminder; if a young person has purchased a monthly Transport for Cornwall pass, their services will arrive and depart at the A390 Tresawls Road. Only students who have purchased a specific College bus pass can use routes that arrive and depart from the Truro College bus bay.
If you are experiencing transport difficulties or are unsure which option to use, please contact Student Services. The team will help you understand the arrangements and explore the options available.
You can contact Student Services by visiting them on campus or by emailing: studentservices@truro-penwith.ac.uk
You can also use our dedicated Travel & Transport Hub at: https://transport.truro-penwith.ac.uk
Thank you again for your patience, cooperation and understanding.
1. Truro Train Station shuttle buses
Four, free of charge shuttle buses are now running for rail passengers only, from Truro Train Station to Truro College each morning. Student ID must be shown to use these services.
- The buses will arrive at Truro Train Station at approximately 8:40am.
- The first buses will depart as they reach capacity.
- The final shuttle will wait for the train from Penzance, which is due to arrive at approximately 9am.
- Two shuttles are operated by Hopley’s Coaches.
- Two are Go Cornwall Bus 281 services to Truro College.
Afternoon service
Two Hopley’s Coaches will leave Truro College at 4:30pm and travel to Truro Train Station for rail passengers only. Students who need to travel to the train station outside of these shuttle times can use the Park & Ride service. Please note there is an additional charge for the Park & Ride.
2. Additional coach on the 286 Helston to Truro College route
An additional coach has been added to the 286 Helston route to provide more capacity. Please contact onlinestore@truro-penwith.ac.uk if you would like to be added to the waiting list to purchase a pass for this additional coach. If you are already using this service, please continue to do so. Further information and the link to purchase your pass will be sent to the student email address in due course.
3. Information for 277 Newquay to Truro College bus pass holders
Students with a 277 College bus pass should only use the 277 service in the morning and the 4:30pm 277 service from the College bus bay.
The 87 public service is for Transport for Cornwall season-ticket holders only.
Students with a bolt-on ticket can use the 87 service during the day, outside the morning (7.57am – 9.02am) and afternoon (4.30pm – 5.31pm) College 277 service times.
4. New Mevagissey bus and rail travel option from Monday 14 September
From Monday 14 September, Truro College students will be able to use the 186 Callywith College Stagecoach service between Mevagissey and St Austell Bus Station.
Morning journey
- Depart Mevagissey on the 186 at 7:52am.
- Arrive at St Austell Bus Station at 8:12am.
- Catch the 8:19am train to Truro.
- On arrival at Truro Train Station, use the College shuttle to reach the campus.
The 186 bus journey costs £1 each way, payable by card or contactless phone payment. Cash is not accepted.
Afternoon journey
- Take the 4:30pm Hopley’s College shuttle to Truro Train Station.
- Catch the 4.53pm train from Truro to St Austell (Arrives 5:09pm).
- At St Austell, catch the 5:27pm 186 bus service to Mevagissey.
5. Additional GWR road transport from Penzance to Truro College
GWR is providing additional road transport from Penzance to Truro College for this term only. The service will drop students outside the College at approximately 8:30am.
The two, red-coloured Cymru Coaches will depart Monday-Friday from Penzance Bus Station at 07.10; St Erth 07.25; Hayle 07.33; Camborne 07.49 and Redruth at 08.04. Please note this is a morning only rail replacement service with the PM return via the train as usual.
Tickets for this service should be booked through GWR direct.
