Transport connections are set to be transformed with the creation by delivery partners Great Western Railway and Network Rail of a new Mid Cornwall Metro coast to coast rail service that will create a sustainable transport corridor through central Cornwall.
Mid Cornwall Metro will improve transport links Newquay, St Austell, Truro, and Falmouth/Penryn to provide better connections for employment, education, and key services. It is estimated that the new initiative will cost the £56.8 million, and at a meeting earlier this week Cabinet members of Cornwall council agreed to provisionally accept an offer of £50m Levelling Up Funding towards the delivery of the project.
Work is planned to start work next year, and as the designs for the project evolve a series of public and stakeholder consultations will be held. When complete, Mid Cornwall Metro will provide:
- an hourly direct train service between Newquay, Par, St Austell, Truro, Penryn and Falmouth;
- a new platform at Newquay railway station;
- a new passing loop on the Newquay branch line at Tregoss Moor;
- double the frequency of train services between Newquay and Par;
- improved accessibility and interchange at Par station;
- upgrades to level crossings;
- more frequent mainline services between Par, St Austell and Truro;
- reduced journey times and less road congestion for those living along the route;
- improved accessibility at the stations and adjacent areas in Newquay, Roche, Bugle and Falmouth/Penryn;
- digital tickets to provide tap-on/tap-off ‘Pay-As-You-Go' ticketing.
Cornwall Council has further information about the project about the Mid Cornwall Metro project here.
Cllr Richard Williams-Pears, the Council's portfolio holder for transport, said: “We are committed to providing a thriving and sustainable Cornwall, fit for the modern world, for the benefit our residents.
“This initiative is absolutely key to delivering rail and active travel improvements across Cornwall both now and in the future, to enhance the lives of our residents by revolutionising how we can navigate across the Duchy.
“It is an important next step in developing and improving the transport network to support more active lifestyles, offer a greener alternative, reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality and alleviate traffic congestion by encouraging more people to leave the car and walk, cycle and use public transport instead.
“The Council has already successfully bid for £50 million from the Government's Levelling Up Fund, and we recognise the importance of this initiative to enable a levelling up of the local economy and future sustainable growth and investment in mid Cornwall. But we recognise too that in these straitened economic times, we have to be mindful that Cornwall Council is the accountable body for the project, and we need to keep a tight hold of the purse strings and a close eye on the project delivery.
“As well as its green credentials and being a catalyst for economic growth and local regeneration around the stations, I see this as the beginning of a transport revolution for Cornwall with this being the Mid Cornwall section of the eventual Cornwall Metro.”
Matt Barnes, GWR Head of Strategic Service Development, said: “This is really exciting news and we look forward to working with our partners to start delivering the Mid Cornwall Metro initiative, which is going to be truly transformative for the whole of the region.
“Cornwall Council has already done so much to support modal shift and sustainable travel and we are proud to be working with them on this revolutionary project, which will deliver immeasurable benefits for GWR customers.”
Bogdan Lupu, Network Rail industry programme director, said: “This is exciting news for Cornwall and we're looking forward to helping deliver more trains in the county.
“Mid Cornwall Metro will transform the way people get around Cornwall and encourage sustainable travel.”
It is welcome but the reality is new branch lines have to be opened in Cornwall. Beeching lobotomised Cornish rail services and nearly ended them altogether.
Shame this doesn’t include putting back station at Bude. 🙁
While I support the service improvements, I would like to know what arrangements will be made for the introduction of a dedicated fleet of new trains. There must also be suitable provision of maintenance facilities in order to ensure that the new service is reliable. Lastly, the service provider must ensure that sufficient staff are recruited and trained to crew the trains and keep them well maintained and cleaned.
They need to stop calling them “Metro” schemes. A metro is an often underground, city network, like the Paris Metro or London Underground. Not an hourly, mostly rural local sevice. It’s embarrassing.