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All Change in Cornwall
In November 2025 First Bus announced that First would be leaving Cornwall at the end of services on Saturday 14th February 2026. The main reason stated for the withdrawal was that after the retendering exercise in 2020 by Cornwall Council 130 buses worth of subsidised services was awarded to Go Ahead’s Plymouth Citybus, trading as Go Cornwall Bus. So this closure of First Bus would bring to an end a natural lineage of operation dating back over a hundred years. Starting in 1903 the Great Western Railway ran road motor services up until 1923 when National Omnibus & Transport Co. joined forces and became known as Western National. Many further changes followed and in 1995 the ‘First’ name was adopted with the ‘Western National’ name being dropped in 2003. From 2017 a new fleet of ADL Enviro400 MMC double-deckers were introduced with a new ‘Kernow’ identity. A mostly two-tone green livery was used with a red and blue version depending on route branding. There was also the red ‘The Tinner’ brand as well as the ‘Copper’ brand both celebrating Cornwall’s rich industrial past.
The independent transport videos cameras made a visit to Cornwall in early February 2026 to record the final days of First Bus in the county. Our programme starts in Truro on 2nd February 2026. We see the First Bus buses operating alongside Go Cornwall Bus buses at the busy bus station and along Quay Street and Green Street. Look out for the Wright-bodied Volvo double-deckers still in their previous First South Yorkshire ‘Doncaster’ livery and a similar bus from First in Norwich! The following day we visit Penzance bus station. A good variety of both First and Go Cornwall buses are seen including the smart liveried Mercedes mini-buses on the Mousehole service that was withdrawn totally when First moved out causing an outcry from the local residents for loosing their centrally-located bus stop! Our next location is Camborne bus station on Union Street in the town where ‘The Tinner’ and ‘Copper’ liveried buses are seen in action. The small bus station situated on The Moor is our next location in the picturesque town of Falmouth. Again First are seen in action in various liveries alongside Go Cornwall buses and mini-buses. Newquay is very quiet in February and so was the bus station on Manor Road where First Buses and Go Cornwall buses are seen. The following day our cameras returned to Truro filming at the bus station, Quay Street and Green Street with plenty of action to enjoy. Our final location for First Bus is the bus station at St Austell where we catch up with the action there ending our visit featuring First Bus in Cornwall.
Our cameras returned to Cornwall in April 2026 to record the bus scene now that First Bus has left. We visit Truro twice, Penzance on the day of the Penzance Vintage Bus Running Day (A DVD programme will follow!) and further visits to Camborne and Falmouth. Fourteen of the Cornwall based ADL Enviro400 MMCs moved to First Beeline at Slough for a new Slough-Uxbridge-High Wycombe ‘express’ service. Our cameras caught up with them at the end of March – all still in their Kernow liveries! We conclude this programme with some nostalgia. We present some 8mm cine film shot by the late Brian Parnell of Western National Bristol SUs operating at Noss Mayo over the border in Devon. Enjoy!
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| Filmed : | 2026 |
| Duration : | 78 mins |
| Price : | Within UK - £16 |
| Rest of world - £18 | |
| Format : | DVD -R |
| Picture Aspect 16:9 | |
| Order Ref : | D507 |
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