First Bus mess up on school bus contracts ploy
12 March 2025

A few weeks ago, First Bus who hold contracts with Cornwall Council for several routes to schools across Cornwall, gave notice to the Council to terminate the contracts at the end of the summer term.

When the Council put these routes out to tender, First bid again for the routes presumably at prices in excess of what they were previously being paid to deliver the services. This was the tactic that First had used with the park and ride service when they gave the Council notice to terminate the contract then bid again against the new tender and were successful in winning it. Presumably, they thought that they could do the same with the school transport contracts.

However, much to their surprise, First has found that other operators have undercut them and will be providing the services in the future. This has clearly left egg on the faces of First who may have to make some drivers redundant as a result.

See below screenshots from the messages that First has sent to its drivers.