{"id":319162,"date":"2025-11-19T20:02:27","date_gmt":"2025-11-19T10:02:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/railuk.com\/?p=185510"},"modified":"2025-11-19T20:02:27","modified_gmt":"2025-11-19T10:02:27","slug":"second-platform-open-at-newquay-with-branch-line-ready-for-mid-cornwall-metro","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=319162","title":{"rendered":"Second platform open at Newquay with branch line ready for Mid Cornwall Metro"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Newquay has a second platform in operation for the first time in 38 years as trains return to the branch line after Network Rail\u2019s engineering work.<\/p>\n

The station on the north Cornwall coast has only had a single platform in use since October 1987, when the signal box closed. But now, the introduction of new, digital signalling sees two platforms restored.<\/p>\n

The work prepares the railway for the introduction of Mid Cornwall Metro (MCM). An hourly train between Newquay and Par will begin next year, more than doubling the current service. A direct link from Newquay to Falmouth, via Par, St Austell and Truro will follow.<\/p>\n

Digital signalling, controlled at Goonbarrow signal box, replaces the \u201ctoken\u201d system, where a train driver was given a physical object by the signaller to use the railway line. The method ensured only one train was travelling on the single-track line at once.<\/p>\n

Network Rail has now completed several pieces of work for MCM. The second platform at Newquay was completely rebuilt and new track laid to bring trains to it. A new \u201cloop\u201d was constructed at Goss Moor to allow trains to pass each other. Track was replaced near St Blazey and a major refurbishment took place to the 152-year-old Ponts Mill viaduct, which carries the branch line over the River Par.<\/p>\n

MCM is funded by Government and Cornwall Council and is being delivered by Network Rail in partnership with the council and GWR.<\/p>\n

Bogdan Lupu, Network Rail industry programme director, said: \u201cThis is fantastic news for passengers in Cornwall. The completion of this work paves the way for a huge increase in journeys to Newquay and will bring some of the county\u2019s largest places closer together.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re sorry for the disruption while the work took place but its legacy will provide a boost to the local economy and the environment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Matthew Barnes, GWR head of strategic service development, said: \u201cThese upgrades make the track and signalling improvements necessary for us to provide more, and better, services.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis paves the way for us to run our first Mid Cornwall Metro trains which will provide coast-to-coast connectivity between Newquay and Falmouth via Par and St Austell.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow that works are complete we will continue to progress improvements to the train service; the first step will see us double frequency on the line between Newquay and Par, followed by the start of coast-to-coast services at a later date.\u201d<\/p>\n

Image credit: Network Rail<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Newquay has a second platform in operation for the first time in 38 years as trains return to the branch line after Network Rail\u2019s engineering work. The station on the north Cornwall coast has only had a single platform in use since October 1987, when the signal box closed. But now, the introduction of new, [\u2026]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[47,16092,16016,85],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-319162","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-rail-news","category-stations","category-train-operating-companies","category-uk"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t