‘A win-win for businesses, locals and tourists’ as Mid Cornwall Metro begins

The first phase of Mid Cornwall Metro services began this morning, with local business leaders welcoming the significantly enhanced train service between Newquay and Par.

From this morning, trains are running hourly between Newquay and Par, more than doubling the previous timetable and delivering the most frequent service on the line for more than 60 years.

Mark Warren, manager of Newquay Business Improvement District, said:

“Now, having a consistent hourly service, it’s going to make the train the easy way to travel into Newquay, which means we’re going to be busier for longer. People can stay later. It’s a win-win for businesses, for locals, for tourists.”

The full Mid Cornwall Metro service is due to begin next year, introducing direct trains from Newquay to Falmouth via Par, St Austell and Truro, linking some of Cornwall’s largest towns with a single service.

The £57 million project, funded by the UK Government and Cornwall Council, has been enabled by extensive upgrades carried out by Network Rail along the Newquay to Par line.

Work included restoring a second platform at Newquay station, building a new passing loop at Goss Moor to allow trains to run in both directions at the same time, installing digital signalling, replacing track near St Blazey, and completing a major refurbishment of the 153-year-old Ponts Mill viaduct.

Chris Fuoco, Network Rail’s Western route programme director for Devon and Cornwall, said:

“We’re thrilled to have reached this important milestone in delivering Mid Cornwall Metro. The upgrades we’ve completed mean we can run more frequent and more reliable services, helping to better connect communities and support local economic growth.”

 

 

Cllr Dan Rogerson, Cornwall Council’s portfolio holder for transport, said:  

“It is wonderful to see the hourly service start on the Par to Newquay route, it is a real milestone for the Mid Cornwall Metro project.

“Delivering reliable regular travel options into Newquay as an alternative to car travel is good news on so many levels, and will help support the wider economy as well.”

Drew Creek, Mayor of Newquay, said:

“Newquay’s really going through its renaissance with restaurants, bars, cafés and all sorts of other businesses. The more people we can bring into Newquay by train, the better for all those businesses and the wider economy of the town.”

Topher Chard, owner of the Station Café and nearby Saltd café, said:

“It’s going to do so much. It’s going to bring more people in; a train every hour, which I’m very excited for. And of course, just the freedom to transfer around Cornwall rather than going by car.”