General Election 2019: Derek Thomas on Transport

Buses

Improving our transport infrastructure is key not only for our future prosperity but also for an improved quality of life.

The Penzance to Paddington rail-link has seen its greatest-ever investment in the past two years with new trains, improved stations and track upgrades to reduce journey times and increase capacity.

For most of us however, transport means travelling by road and the most used stretch of road in West Cornwall is the A30 from Camborne to Penzance. Government has agreed that the A30 should be dualled and I am pressing to get it included in the next Road Investment Strategy. I’ve used my influence as MP to secure road improvements, resurfacing work and repairs to potholes. This includes £1.3m for safety measures at Crowlas. I’m pressing Highways England and Cornwall Council to get on with the job!

For many constituents their journey does not end in West Cornwall. Which is why I meet regularly with the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company and others to discuss ways to make the sea link to Scilly more resilient.

This year I sent out 12,000 surveys to rural households asking for views on bus services – poor reliability and a lack of affordability were key issues and I am pleased that the Government recognised the problem in Cornwall by announcing an extra £23.5m to reduce fares.

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    I’ll work to ensure the extra £23.5m from Government allows passengers to get to and from work and take journeys that modern life determines for a price they can afford on our buses.

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