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 will also be 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 will be 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.
Once direct trains along the Newquay-Falmouth route begin, there will be three trains an hour between Par, St Austell and Truro.
The Maritime Line (Truro-Falmouth) will retain two trains an hour throughout. The introduction of the hourly Newquay-Falmouth service will see one of these each hour be to/from Newquay via St Austell.
Walking and cycling links will be improved between Penryn and Falmouth, including to Penryn station and the University campuses.
Mid Cornwall Metro is also seeking to fund a new Access for All footbridge at Par station, which will see lifts installed at both platforms, providing step free access for the first time.
Newquay station will receive a new second platform, improvements to local bus stops and an improved station car park.
Walking and cycling access will be improved to Penryn, Newquay, Roche and Bugle stations.
Mid Cornwall Metro is also seeking to fund a new Access for All footbridge at Par station, which will see lifts installed at both platforms, providing step free access for the first time.
There will be tap-in, tap-out facilities to allow Pay As You Go local travel between all Cornish stations and to/from Plymouth with a GWR smartcard. This is an expansion of the recently launched scheme covering West Cornwall stations.
Walking and cycling links will be improved between Penryn and Falmouth, including to Penryn station and the University campuses.
There will also be improved walking and cycling links to Newquay station and in Roche and Bugle.
These improvements will be complemented by the 80 e-bike hire bays and around 200 e-bikes already available in Newquay, St Austell, Truro, Penryn and Falmouth, including at/near each train station.
Mid Cornwall Metro is being made possible thanks to almost £50 million from the Government.
The project is a partnership between the UK Government, Cornwall Council, Network Rail, Great Western Railway and the Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership.