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I just heard that the "green" light has been given to the proposals to develop an eco-town in mid-Cornwall. From what I understand, a new main line park and ride station at Blackpool (? Burngullow) has been tentatively proposed for the 2,500 new homes to be built in the area. The Goonbarrow (500 homes) and the Par Harbour (250-500 homes) developments are within reach of Bugle and Par stations respectively. The 200 or so homes planned for Drinnick & Nanpean area will be built next to the Parkandillack freight line, the route of which is earmarked as a "public transport corridor" in the Imerys plan, which does not, as far as I can see, propose the introduction of passenger services. Will this lead to renewed calls for a Newquay-St Dennis-Nanpean-Blackpool/Burngullow to St Austell passenger service?

On the subject of St Austell station, has anyone suggested using the siding in the cutting to the west of the station up to the old goods yard as a reversal point? This stretch has three tracks, the left-hand track on the up-side being the former entrance to the goods yard. By making that track the up main, the middle track would be released for use as a siding where local services to & from Newquay via St Dennis (or Falmouth for that matter) could reverse from the up main to the down main.

I realise this is a pie-in-the-sky type post but I'm in that sort of mood!


 
 

The main line station at Blackpool (which, I understand, would be at Burngullow) is a key part of the Eco Town plans as I understand it, Andy, but I've not been involved in any of the discussions.

Re reversing at St Austell, I think the easiest option would almost certainly be to run to Par and reverse there.  Nothing would need to be done.

For further reading consult this Relevant page of the Imerys Website (http://www.claycountryvision.imerys.com/content/2_BlackpoolPitandRefinery.asp).

Thanks Richard B for the information - let us hope that you will be invited to participate in future discussions!!
 
Thanks also Rail Cornwall for the link.

In 2000, the populations of the parishes of St Dennis & St Stephen totalled about 10,000 souls, to which we could add a further 5,500 eco-townspeople (assuming two persons per new house). I imagine that a station at Burngullow would probably be presented as a railhead for these areas and thus a preferable alternative to a passenger service along the Parkandillack line. Personally, I think that if 750 homes can fund the reinstatement of trains to Tavistock, 5,500 homes ought to be able to fund the establishment of a through route between St. Austell & Newquay. 

Are the remains of the small station building on the up side at Burngullow still there? 

I also heard that the go ahead has been given for the Oxfordshire "Eco Town" is that the one by the Bicester line?

If so that's a big boost for Chilterns Oxford service and the Oxford Cambridge (East West) reopening.

Pity there isn't room for an eco town around Wooburn and Loudwater to enable Boune end to Wycombe to reopen.
 

Further details of the four confirmed sites are available on the BBC News (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8152985.stm) site:

 Article on the local news regarding the site at St Austell.

 Unfortunately the NIMBY'S and Campaign for rural England are already sharpening their sabres.

 So unlikely to see any development for some time yet, would the French take so long ?

The Bicester situation is a bit complicated - the initial proposal for that area, from a developer and called Weston Otmoor, was south-west of the town, straddling the Oxford-Bicester Town line and near the A34 and M40. The district council then came up with an alternative of its own, called North West Bicester, effectively an eco-extension of the town - this is what was shortlisted today. This site straddles the Chiltern Line on the outskirts of the town but it's so close to Bicester North I can't see it would get a station of its own.

From the transport Briefing filed 16/7/09 (link below)

"Detailed transport analysis will also be required for the China Clay eco-town village settlements around St Austell. Last year consultant Scott Wilson highlighted the poor connectivity in the region and said only two of the six proposed China Clay sites were near a railway station. While land owner and eco-town promoter Imerys has put forward plans to build a new station at Blackpool Dryers, create a Bodmin to Truro train shuttle service and provide light rail and bus rapid transit routes, funding has yet to be identified and questions remain as to whether the necessary infrastructure work will ever be affordable."

http://www.transportbriefing.co.uk/news/story?id=6071

Yes, but hidden in the bushes!!

The siding is to the east of the station!! The move you suggest isnt a signalled move, so reversing at Par would make more sense as no money would have to be spent there......

Sorry Slippy, of course it's to the east.

Major development in this story today, Orascom a Swiss company with worldwide development interests have taken a 75% majority stake in the Cornwall Eco Town project with Imerys retaining the balance. This makes the prospect of this going ahead even greater imo.

Orascom Press Release (http://www.orascomdh.com/en/news/news-detail/archive/2009/september/15/article/corporate-news-5.html)

Also covered by the BBC, at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/8256426.stm

It seems from an announcement made today that the Burngullow site is not on the list of the first two sites to be developed. BBC News (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/8352294.stm) reports that the agreed initial phase covers two sites to the NE of St. Austell and the Par Docks marina. When the project website is updated I'll add more to this thread.