Strike action to hit Go Cornwall Bus school and college services

School and college bus services provided by Go Cornwall will be suspended every Wednesday until Christmas due to a series of strikes.

The RMT (National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers) is planning the strikes across the Go Cornwall bus network every Wednesday from November 18 to December 23, which will affect travel to and from Truro and Penwith College and Cornwall College among other education facilities.

A spokesperson for Cornwall Council said: “Go Cornwall school and college bus services will be suspended on Wednesdays from November 18 because of planned strike action by some of its drivers. The industrial action, involving members of the RMT union, is currently expected to take place every Wednesday until Christmas.

“Parents and carers whose children rely on these services should make alternative travel arrangements on affected days.” The council has added that Truro Park and Ride is not affected.

The Transport for Cornwall website, which is jointly run by the council and bus operators, states: “Our first priority on strike days is keeping passengers safe, particularly children, young people and anyone who may be vulnerable. If you are responsible for a child or student travelling to school or college, please make alternative arrangements on affected strike days.

“Families and carers should not rely on another local bus simply because it serves, or passes close to, the school or college. We cannot know in advance exactly which journeys we will have the resources to operate.

“A bus being available to take a child or student to school or college does not mean that a bus will be available to bring them home later that day. Safeguarding children and young people has to come first.”

On strike days when schools and colleges are open, Transport for Cornwall will suspend:

- Dedicated school and college contract services

- Dedicated education services

- Journeys on the wider local bus network specifically scheduled to provide school or college transport. These are typically identified in timetables as ‘school day only’ or ‘Truro College day only’.

Cancellations will be published as soon as they become known with information updated throughout each strike day. A spokesperson for Transport for Cornwall said: “We are sorry for the disruption and uncertainty this industrial action will cause.”

We have contacted both Go Cornwall and the RMT for further comment.