The
line


between
Par
and
Newquay
in
Cornwall
will
close
next
week
so
that
engineers
can
lay
new
track
and
install
signalling.

Two
possessions
have
been
arranged
in
connection
with
development
of
the
£56
million
Mid
Cornwall
Metro.
Trains
from
Newquay
will
replaced
by
buses
to
St
Austell.

The
first
closure
begins
on
18
November
and
will
run
until
1
December.
Engineers
have
just
completed
a
new
platform
at
Newquay
and
they
will
now
lay
the
platform
line
and
install
points.
The
platform
is
intended
for
local
trains
and
will
be
shorter
than
the
existing
one,
which
can
take
full-length
Intercity
Expresses.

Trains
will
be
replaced
by
buses
again
between
24
February
and
23
March
so
that
a
passing
loop
can
be
built
at
Tregoss
Moor,
between
Roche
and
St
Columb
Road
stations.

These
works
will
allow
the
Par-Newquay
line
to
carry
an
hourly
service
from
May
as
well
as
daily
intercity
trains
during
the
summer.

The
line
opened
to
passengers
in
1876
but
was
severely
rationalised
by
British
Rail
in
the
1980s,
which
also
singled
9km
of
the
main
line
between
St
Austell
and
Truro
as
another
economy
measure.
That
section
was
redoubled
in
2004,
and
now
the
main
cutbacks
on
the
Newquay
line
are
also
being
reversed.
The
traditional
tokens
protecting
single
line
sections
will
be
replaced
by
axle
counters,
and
two
level
crossings
in
suburban
Newquay
will
soon
be
closed
to
vehicles
following
completion
of
a
new
road
bridge.

Further
ahead,
the
hourly
local
train
service
from
Newquay
is
due
to
be
extended
to
St
Austell,
Truro
and
Falmouth
by
2026.

Network
Rail
industry
programme
director
Bogdan
Lupu
said:
‘This
is
the
first
of
two
major
pieces
of
work
we
need
to
complete
on
the
Newquay
branch
line.
We’ve
got
a
new
platform
ready
and
now
we
need
to
lay
new
track
to
reach
it.

‘We’re
sorry
for
the
disruption
but
working
this
way
is
the
fastest
route
to
bring
the
benefits
of
Mid
Cornwall
Metro
to
passengers.’

GWR’s
station
manager
for
West
Cornwall
Sharon
Holloway
added:
‘This
improvement
work
forms
part
of
wider
plans
to
enhance
services
for
those
choosing
to
travel
by
rail
across
Cornwall.

‘During
these
dates,
trains
will
still
run
between
Plymouth
and
Penzance
at
Par
station
with
replacement
buses
running
between
St
Austell
and
Newquay.’