Mid Cornwall Metro is a £56.8m project that will deliver an hourly coast-to-coast rail service between Newquay, Quintrell Downs, Par, St Austell, Truro, Penryn, Penmere, Falmouth Town and Falmouth Docks.

A new passing loop has been constructed at Tregoss Moor alongside an additional platform at Newquay to enable two trains to run along the Newquay branch at the same time.

The project will include station improvements and better walking and cycling access.

Tap in, tap out Pay As You Go ticketing with a GWR smartcard has also been extended to the whole of Cornwall, plus Plymouth and the Tamar Valley Line, as part of the project.

Work started in 2024, and the new passing loop and additional platform at Newquay has been constructed. Both will become operational in early 2026.

Once the new loop and platform is commissioned, Newquay, Quintrell and Par will see an hourly train service commence in the Spring of 2026.

Direct trains serving the full Mid Cornwall Metro route between Newquay and Falmouth will start after the first phase between Newquay and Par has been embedded.

Check this website for the latest updates from the project, including on station improvements, enhanced cycling and walking access and more.

180,000 people live within 4km of a Mid Cornwall Metro station. The project will connect people with employment, education and amenities to support levelling up and a cleaner, greener, fairer and more inclusive Cornwall.

Read more about how the project will enhance the business case for wider economic developments (PDF).

Although the enhanced services will be operating hourly, some smaller stations on the branch line (St Columb Road, Roche, Bugle, and Luxulyan) will have alternating stopping services with the call pattern remaining every 2 hours.

However, the new rail passing loop at Tregoss Moor will allow trains to pass each other, meaning local services can run all year round including in the peak summer.

As a result, St Columb Road, Roche, Bugle and Luxulyan will no longer have a reduced timetable in the summer when seasonal London trains run direct to Newquay, ensuring intermediate stations get a 2 hourly service all year round, making local journeys more reliable.

The project will deliver improved cycling and walking access to Roche and Bugle stations.

All stations have been equipped for tap in, tap out Pay As You Go travel using a GWR smartcard.

Services to these stations will remain as every two hours. However, there will be changes in the timetable which may see some stations have their station calls at different times than present.

This is necessary because the line has limited timetable capacity and the need to reduce the journey time between Newquay and Par to co-ordinate the services both on the Newquay branchline and with the main line via St Austell and Truro.

These stations will also benefit from the extended direct services to St Austell, Truro, Penryn and Falmouth, in the second phase of the enhancements.

Future improvements to the Newquay Line will be focused on securing additional timetable capacity and increased frequencies at these smaller stations in line with new developments along the route and growth in the service.