Great Western Coffee Shop

"Mid Cornwall Metro" is about linking Newquay, St Austell, Truro and Falmouth.  Cornwall Council also want to look at what's next for the Falmouth line.  It doesn't include Burngullow - it's just too expensive for now.

The Newquay proposals are about the capacity improvements needed to increase frequency on the existing line with an hourly service being the ultimate objective - reinstating a second platform at Newquay in the mix. 

NETWORK RAIL has been awarded a tender by Cornwall Council for a scheme to upgrade the railway network in central Cornwall, which would mean improving the infrastructure on the Newquay branch and introducing through services between Newquay, St Austell, Truro and Falmouth under the title of Mid-Cornwall Metro.

The two bodies are now set to enter into a Development Services Agreement to work on the proposed scheme. It would be carried out during Control Period 6, which starts in 2024, and could be achieved alongside signalling upgrades. The Bid Notice says: ?The greater Newquay area is seeing a growth in demand for new homes and a number of major developments, with the railway having the potential to be part of the transport solution. It can connect four of the major centres in Cornwall ? Falmouth, Truro, St Austell and Newquay, and provide access to sustainable transport.?

The work will include design, survey and ground investigations, along with feasibility reports and cost estimates. Network Rail will appoint the subcontractors.

Best option really would be to rebuild the Newquay to Chasewater line which ran through Perranporth, and run through services from Newquay to Falmouth reversing at Truro.
It was said back in the 1960's that BR shut the wrong Newquay line.

It was said back in the 1960's that BR shut the wrong Newquay line.

Not the only case of a surprise as to which line remained open.     Whitby ...

I've always thought GWR are frightened to increase services on the branches because they could not cope with the demand. Okehampton, maybe forced their hand.

Metro needs a minimum half hour service as Exmouth, Paignton, Falmouth, and St Ives prove. The Honiton line should have been half hour years ago.

Apparently 15 minutes is the golden time for growth. Exmouth have wanted that for along time but need another passing loop.

"Good news. Newquay needs a more regular and faster service. The success of the increased capacity on the Falmouth branch shows what could be achieved."

Indeed - some Falmouth services yesterday were reminiscent of urban rush-hour services. However, the tale of woe that greeted anyone trying to use branch line services to Gunnislake or Looe yesterday suggests that the first goal needs to be ensuring that resources are there to ensure / guarantee that the existing advertised service actually runs (and by "advertised service" I mean the service advertised as available when people are making plans several weeks in advance not "the service advertised online at 22.00 the previous evening"!)

Don't know why the first bit doesn't show as the quote it actually is!

Heathfield not being taken forward is understandable as all the new housing is being built between the A382 and A383  and Wolborough well away from the Heathfield Line.
GWR still sends the odd empty coaching stock past signal 706 to keep a small stretch operational.

I'm guessing that for now at least, NR (or GBR) will just continue to cooperate with the current Heath Rail Link group to further their aims of getting a combined commuter/heritage/general service running.

any indication of where the passing loop on the Newquay branch will be?

Don't know ... but for a 30 minute service you would need a loop at St Columb Road and to retain and use the one at Goonbarrow Junction.  Is it double from St Blazey around to Par?  Turn around at Newquay would need to be slick too; it will be interesting to see if the proposals include retaining through trains to / from east of Plymouth with the significant risk of disruption if there are cows on the line at Crofton or a shortage of drivers means the London train has had to call at Pewsey and Westbury.   Inputs / comments welcomed please - I am not as informed on this project and I suspect other readers may not be either!

I'm assuming that the promised 'Capacity increase' on the Falmouth line is to be achieved by moving up to three carriage services on the MCM. The Platform enhancements at the two Falmouth Stations infer that. Falmouth Town will be tricky to complete without juggling things a bit. I believe Perranwell and Penmere would cope well with three cars and of course Penryn was so designed in the 2000's work.

I still cannot see the point of Falmouth to Newquay as is such a roundabout route that the bus beats it. I can see the need of improvements on the Newquay branch but I think the delays introduced to the present excellent Truro to Falmouth service would be a great risk to reliability. Even Newquay to Truro would not be very quick.