http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/plymouth-metro-system-could-spark-rail-revival-in-south-west/story-30263022-detail/story.htmlA new train line between Plymouth and Tavistock could be in place within five years, connecting up with a cross-city tram-style Metro system by 2024.
Council chiefs have revealed more detail about plans for a rail revival in the region, saying Plymouth could be better connected with the wider South West than ever before.
Patrick Nicholson, deputy leader of Plymouth City Council, says housing developments in Tavistock are key to unlocking funding for a new station to be built in the town.
"We believe the Tavistock to Plymouth line is deliverable in the next five years," he said.
"Elsewhere in Plymouth area, guided by the Joint Local Plan, we will be looking at potential sites for a new station in Plympton over the next 12 months."
A map of what the network could eventually look like (above) shows new stations in Tavistock, Plympton and Trerulefoot in south east Cornwall.
The Plymouth Metro could run between Devonport, Plymouth, Plympton and Ivybridge, allowing passengers to link up with existing rail services in the east and west.
The new Tavistock service could run through Bere Alston, Bere Ferrers, St Budeaux and Keyham on the way to Plymouth and then up to Newton Abbot.
The Department for Transport has begun the process of renewing the South West's rail franchise, with a new deal set to be in place by 2020.
Some ideas in here have certainly been around for a while but I've not heard of the Trerulefoot proposal before - it's certainly got potential, the road between there and Saltash/Plymouth is full of accident blackspots, pinch points and endless roadworks so a park and ride system could go someway to alleviate the pressure already on the roads.
