Comment: Funding confirmed for Mid Cornwall Metro

Despite the demise of the Restoring Your Railway (RYR) fund, which was a victim of government budget cuts last year, Network Rail has confirmed that the three stages of the Mid Cornwall Metro project will be completed at a cost of £56.8 million. There is also financial backing from Cornwall Council.

No new lines are involved, but the restoration of capacity to run an hourly service between Newquay and Falmouth via Par and Truro requires the restoration of a second platform at Newquay and a passing loop on the branch at Goss Moor, which will allow local trains to continue to operate when dated (seasonal) long-distance services are run to the resort.

Track alterations will also take place at St Blazey, to avoid potential conflicting movements.

Resignalling in the area has already been completed, with control transferred to Exeter, and the first stage of the metro project will be implemented this year with an hourly frequency between Newquay and Par.

At Par the project includes the installation of lifts and a new footbridge to allow step-free access. Newquay station retains its proximity to the town centre and beaches, and has step-free access.

Intermediate branch line stations are to be improved and equipped with ticket readers that allow tap-in tap-out smartcards to be used. These will be provided by Great Western Railway and will be valid for journeys to and from Plymouth and all stations in Cornwall.

The revival of local rail travel has led to an increased frequency on the Falmouth branch from Truro, which became possible as a result of commissioning a dynamic loop at Penryn.

There are two stations at Falmouth. The original docks facility (Falmouth Docks) was closed in 1970 when a more convenient site for the town and university opened (Falmouth Town), before reopening in 1975.

Demand continues to increase, and in 2023-24 recorded usage was higher than pre-COVID, with 384,000 passenger journeys in total (of which 247,000 were at the town location). At the other end of the branch, Truro station had usage of 1.19 million, of which 255,000 were recorded as interchange passengers.

With two trains per hour at present, the branch line timetable will see one of these extended to Par and Newquay during 2026.

In the past, Truro was served by another branch line which ran to Newquay via Chacewater on the main line and the popular resort of Perranporth, but with little local population the line closed in February 1963.

No proposals have been made to reopen this route, but in 2021 Cornwall Council made a formal proposal to create a trail for cyclists and walkers over the section from Perranporth to Newquay (a part of which is now open). The route is also occupied by the Lappa Valley narrow gauge railway, which has not been affected by the plan.

The Newquay branch from Par was an important destination in the 1950s tourist heyday, and the popularity of surfing has restored a demand which has led to the restoration of dated main line services.

Like many branch lines in Cornwall, the station layout and facilities were reduced to the minimum with a single platform. But happily, the restoration of a second platform is part of the metro project.

With the minimal service provided for local passengers, usage in 2023-24 totalled only 125,000, despite the provision of through services to London during the summer season.

The withdrawal of RYR funding is a blow to a number of local authorities who aspire to provide an alternative to the use of cars in town centres, and to reduce congestion to make bus journeys more competitive.

A success story has been the acquisition by Network Rail of the route to Okehampton - previously owned by the operators of Meldon Quarry, which ceased production of track ballast in 2011.

NR acquired the line in 2021, together with one of the Okehampton station platforms from Devon County Council, which retains ownership of the remainder of the site.

Now, forming part of the Devon Metro, an hourly service is operated. In the first year following reopening, 228,000 passenger journeys were recorded, and this figure rose to 315,000 in 2023-24 - a reflection of travel to Exeter and inward journeys to access Dartmoor. A number of connecting bus services are also provided.

The success of Okehampton services has brought a new focus on reaching Tavistock from Plymouth, by restoring the route from Bere Alston.

Put forward by Devon County Council with support from Network Rail and Great Western Railway, it had been hoped that RYR funding would be secured.

Trains would also be extended beyond Plymouth to Ivybridge, and serve a new station at Plympton. Alternative sources for funding include section 106 contributions made by developers to fund infrastructure improvements.

The promotion of rail services as part of the Devon Metro has led to increased passenger numbers, with 550,000 users from Barnstaple last year - an increase from 425,000 five years previously. There are proposals to extend the route to Bideford in the longer term.

Stakeholders have also been putting the case for making greater use of the main line between Exeter and London Waterloo, by opening new stations and doubling the existing single line to allow greater frequency.

Increased passenger numbers in the West Country will require greater rolling stock capacity, particularly after the withdrawal of the ‘Castle’ Class shortened HST sets.

The apparent plan is to use Class 175 units displaced by Transport for Wales, but there are route availability issues as the vehicle weight of 50 tonnes compares with the 38-tonne Sprinter units.

Many city authorities such as Bristol had been examining the prospects for reviving routes that will enable city centres to be reached by rail, by making use of RYR funding to supplement local contributions.

This was the intended method to reopen the Portishead branch for passenger trains, with the West of England Combined Authority, North Somerset Council and the RYR fund contributing the required £152m. In view of the advanced state of the project, the local authorities hope the Department for Transport can be persuaded to restore their funding share.

For the future, Combined Authorities with an elected Mayor are able to levy a Council Tax precept for transport projects which is likely to enable a number of intended projects to progress.