Cornwall’s public transport links will see a £50m government investment to deliver the mid-Cornwall Metro Scheme.
In a visit to Newquay Station on 27 March 2024, Transport Secretary Mark Harper met with local leaders including St Austell and Newquay MP Steve Double to discuss progress on the major improvement project.
Delivered in partnership between Cornwall Council, Great Western Railway (GWR) and Network Rail, the scheme aims to double the number of rail services between Newquay and Par, adding an extra 700,000 seats per year for passengers along the route.
It also seeks to encourage walking and cycling by delivering active travel improvements in and around stations including new cycle parking, bike hire options, widened footpaths and better crossing points.
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Initial benefits of the scheme will be delivered as early as May next year and – once complete in full by the end of 2025 – it will offer a new hourly coast-to-coast train service between Cornwall’s largest urban areas: Newquay, St Austell, Truro and Falmouth.
GWR and Cornwall Council will provide enhancements along the Newquay rail line including a second platform at Newquay station and an additional ‘passing loop’ on the tracks to increase capacity and allow extra services to run.
Passengers will be able to use digital ticketing, allowing them to simply ‘tap-in’ and ‘tap-out’, knowing they will always pay the best fare without needing to plan ahead or search for the right ticket.
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Transport secretary, Mark Harper, said: “It’s very encouraging to see the momentum building behind the mid-Cornwall Metro Scheme, an important project that’s part of our plan to improve local transport in Cornwall.
“Thanks to this government’s investment, passengers in Cornwall will experience a more frequent rail service that’s fit for the future.”
Achievements and innovations in public transport planning will be celebrated at the third annual CiTTi Awards, which will be held on 26 November 2024 at De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London. Nominations are open now! Please visit www.cittiawards.co.uk to learn more about this unmissable event for the UK’s transportation sector.
