Callywith College in Bodmin, Cornwall has awarded its student transport contract to Stagecoach South West. The new contract, commencing on 1 September, will see Stagecoach operate 17 dedicated buses to serve the college’s growing student body across the region, replacing current operator Go Cornwall Bus. The college says the move signals a fresh era for its transport, as Stagecoach expands its presence in the county with what will be its largest single contract in Cornwall to date. To support the contract, Stagecoach will establish a new operating centre in the Bodmin area.
Managing Director of Stagecoach South West Peter Knight said: “Stagecoach South West is excited to be part of this new partnership with Callywith College to ensure a high quality travel experience for our new customers across the college community. This long-term contract will deliver a number of benefits for the college and we look forward delivering a class leading transport solution, tailored to the requirements of the college and its learners.”
To complement the operational leap, the college is also partnering with RideTandem, which will introduce a bespoke ticketing app tailored to the needs of its students and their families. CEO of RideTandem Alex Shapland-Howes said: “We’re very excited to be part of this new partnership with Stagecoach and Callywith College to ensure the highest quality user experience for students, their families and college staff. Our student and guardian apps will streamline the process of ticketing, provide daily reassurance to parents when their son or daughter safely boards and offer the college access to granular data to ensure services can continue to be optimised over time.”
As part of the new contract, a fresh new livery for the college bus fleet will be unveiled later this year, designed to reflect the college’s identity and values whilst creating a professional and visible presence for the service across the region.
“We’re absolutely delighted to award the new bus contract to Stagecoach, in partnership with RideTandem,” said Jon Grey, Principal at Callywith College. “This collaboration marks a significant step forward in enhancing the travel experience for our students across a challenging costal and rural county. This will be a modern, reliable and tech-enabled service that supports our commitment to social mobility through accessible and sustainable bus transport.”
