We’ve partnered with Cornwall Council and train operator Great Western Railway to give you more frequent trains and coast-to-coast travel for the first time.
More frequent and direct journeys
The £56.8m Mid Cornwall Metro is a vital part of our continued upgrade of Cornwall’s railway, where passenger numbers have more than doubled over the past 20 years.
We began stage three of the project this month. The 400-metre passing loop we’re building at Goss Moor will allow long-distance and local trains to run at the same time between Newquay and Par.
It will mean starting this autumn, you can enjoy double the number of trains between Newquay and Par – that’s an extra 700,000 seats every year each way. You’ll also be able to catch hourly direct trains from coast to coast for the first time in 2026, between Newquay, Par, St Austell, Truro, Penryn and Falmouth. And we’ll give you more frequent mainline services between Par, St Austell and Truro.
We started work for the project in September 2024 by restoring a second platform at Newquay station. This included installing 500 metres of new track and a new crossing. The extra platform was vital to allow us to run more frequent trains on the line.
Other improvements include installing eight digital signals between Par and Newquay to enable us to run more trains on the line. We expect to finish this work in September.
Better journeys beyond rail
And the project doesn’t just stop at your train journeys. We’re also upgrading five stations along the route – Newquay, Roche, Bugle, Par and Penryn – by building better cycling, walking and bus links. Plus, we’re planning an accessible footbridge lift at Par station.
You’ll also find new digital tap-on and tap-off pay-as-you-go ticket gates at each of these stations. The new digital ticketing technology will allow you to use Great Western Railway’s touch smartcard – making your trips from booking to boarding more efficient and convenient.
We also built a new bridge over the railway at Nansledan in Newquay between summer 2023 and 2024. The bridge will form part of the Newquay Strategic Route – a new transport link for the suburb – and give pedestrians and motorists safer and smoother journeys.
A boost to the community
These improvements will benefit the community of 280,000 people living within seven miles of the route. It will mean more opportunities for locals and attract new business and investment.
Bogdan Lupu, an industry programme director at Network Rail, said: “Our work will bring more trains to Newquay, improve the environment and boost the local economy.”
