Cornwall Council’s cabinet has agreed to provisionally accept the offer of 50 million GBP of Levelling Up Funding to go to the delivery of the 56.8 million GBP Mid Cornwall Metro project.
The scheme is to provide better transport links for people to access employment, education and key services.
Working with GWR and Network Rail, the Mid Cornwall Metro coast to coast rail service will deliver a transport corridor through central Cornwall by improving the current links between four of Cornwall’s largest towns: Newquay, St Austell, Truro and Falmouth/Penryn.
The Mid Cornwall Metro will include the following improvements:
- hourly direct trains between Newquay, Par, St Austell, Truro, Penryn and Falmouth
- a new platform at Newquay
- a new passing loop on the Newquay branch line at Tregoss Moor
- a doubling of the number of rail services between Newquay and Par
- improved accessibility and interchange at Par Station
- level crossing upgrades
- increased main line services between Par, St Austell and Truro
- ticket digitalisation with tap-on/tap-off pay-as-you-go ticketing
“We are committed to providing a thriving and sustainable Cornwall, fit for the modern world, for the benefit our residents.
“This initiative is absolutely key to delivering rail and active travel improvements across Cornwall both now and in the future, to enhance the lives of our residents by revolutionising how we can navigate across the Duchy.
“It is an important next step in developing and improving the transport network to support more active lifestyles, offer a greener alternative, reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality and alleviate traffic congestion by encouraging more people to leave the car and walk, cycle and use public transport instead.
“The Council has already successfully bid for £50 million from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund, and we recognise the importance of this initiative to enable a levelling up of the local economy and future sustainable growth and investment in mid Cornwall. But we recognise too that in these straitened economic times, we have to be mindful that Cornwall Council is the accountable body for the project, and we need to keep a tight hold of the purse strings and a close eye on the project delivery.
“As well as its green credentials and being a catalyst for economic growth and local regeneration around the stations, I see this as the beginning of a transport revolution for Cornwall with this being the Mid Cornwall section of the eventual Cornwall Metro.”
There is to be a programme of public and stakeholder engagement on the proposals as the designs for the project become more mature.
Work is set to begin in 2024.
