THE transport secretary visited Newquay Train Station to ensure the £56.8-million Mid Cornwall Metro scheme is on track.

Mark Harper met with local leaders on Wednesday to discuss progress on the major improvement project, which will offer a new hourly coast-to-coast train service between Newquay, St Austell, Truro and Falmouth. 

The scheme will include reopening the second platform at Newquay Station, a £7-million investment in the station and a new rail passing loop at Tregoss Moor, which will allow trains to pass each other.

This will also enable local and long-distance services to operate concurrently to provide a year round service.

Par Station will benefit from a new accessible footbridge, lift and interchange. Walking and cycling links will be improved between Penryn and Falmouth, including to Penryn station and the University campuses.

Passengers travelling along the rail route will also benefit from modern, more convenient digital ticketing, allowing them to simply tap-in and tap-out, knowing they will always pay the best fare without needing to plan ahead or search for the right ticket. 

Initial benefits of the scheme will be delivered as early as May next year and is due to be completed in full by 2026.

Transport secretary Mark Harper said: "It’s very encouraging to see the momentum building behind the Mid-Cornwall Metro Scheme, an important project that’s part of our plan to improve local transport in Cornwall. 

"Thanks to this government's investment, passengers in Cornwall will experience a more frequent rail service that’s fit for the future.” 

The scheme will also encourage walking and cycling by delivering active travel improvements in and around stations including new cycle parking, bike hire options, widened footpaths and better crossing points. 

The Mid Cornwall Metro is being delivered in partnership between Cornwall Council, Great Western Railway (GWR) and Network Rail.

The scheme will double the number of rail services between Newquay and Par, adding an extra 700,000 seats per year for passengers along the route. 

Other improvements will include level crossing upgrades and signalling improvements to make rail services more reliable.  

Representatives from GWR and Network Rail attended the visit.

GWR business assurance director Joe Graham said: "The improvement to Newquay that the Mid Cornwall Metro will bring will really enhance services, better connecting people with jobs, students with education services, and leisure opportunities for all – providing valuable support for the community and local economies.

"We continue to work with our industry partners to ensure we can deliver on these improvements in the future." 

Network Rail’s western route director Marcus Jones added: “Our recently completed track and signalling upgrade in Devon and Cornwall has unlocked the door to the development of the Mid Cornwall Metro, which will help more people than ever before travel by train.

“Not only will the scheme provide coast-to-coast travel with an hourly direct train service connecting Newquay, Par, St Austell, Truro, Penryn and Falmouth, it will also improve safety and accessibility. Enabling easier travel by train will also help to cut congestion on our roads, reducing carbon emissions.

“We’re really looking forward to starting work later this year to deliver this exciting project with our partners at Cornwall Council and GWR.”

Newquay MP Steve Double and Cornwall Council cabinet members attended the visit to show the minister why the scheme is so important to people across Mid-Cornwall.

Mr Double said: “It was great to go through the detail of the Mid-Cornwall Metro scheme with the Transport Secretary and show him around the station quarter in Newquay. This scheme represents the biggest ever investment by any government in our local railway network and will bring investment into Newquay.

“Providing better rail connection for people along the route will increase opportunities for everyone, especially young people, for education, training and work as well supporting our local tourism sector.

“I’m delighted to have been able to secure this investment and want to thank everyone who has worked to deliver this exciting scheme. Now the work can begin so we can deliver the benefits of the scheme to local people and businesses as soon as possible.”

Cllr Richard Williams-Pears, Cornwall Council’s cabinet portfolio holder for transport, added: “The Mid Cornwall Metro underlines our commitment to provide 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.  

“The council and the government recognise the importance of this initiative to enable a levelling up of the local economy and future sustainable growth and investment in mid Cornwall."

Cllr Gardner, the cabinet member at Cornwall Council for the economy, said: “I was pleased to welcome MP Mark Harper to Newquay so that he could see firsthand the real need for Levelling Up investment into the Mid Cornwall Metro project.

“The new hourly train service connecting Newquay with the Clay villages, St Austell and onwards as well as over £7-million of investment into the station and Narrowcliff area of town will act as a catalyst for further investment into Newquay and is very much needed. 

“I thank the UK government and local MP Steve Double for recognising the need and the benefits of an investment of this scale into Newquay.”