TRURO - FALMOUTH RAIL BRANCH LINE TO RECEIVE £7.8 MILLION IMPROVEMENTS TO DOUBLE TRAIN SERVICES

Services on the rail branch line between Truro, Penryn and Falmouth are set for major improvements next year with the announcement by Cornwall County Council that they have today signed agreements with Network Rail and First Great Western to deliver the Truro - Falmouth branch line passing loop scheme, which will see a doubling in the frequency of train services from next summer.

The scheme will be delivered thanks to an overall investment of £7.8 million into the service, including £4.67 million from EU investment, £2.5m provided by Cornwall County Council and Network Rail contributing £600,000.

Detailed design work on the enhanced rail service has already begun and work is expected to begin on site in October 2008 with a new timetable commencing May 2009.

The EU Convergence investment will allow the project to form a key part of the overall transport strategy identified for the Truro area in order to achieve its wider economic, social and environmental objectives to 2016 and beyond.

The project, one of a number across Cornwall to be delivered throughout the lifetime of the Convergence programme, is a Partnership between Cornwall County Council, Network Rail and First Great Western and will provide a passing loop adjacent to Penryn Station to facilitate two way movement of trains, increase the current level of service to a regular two per hour service during the working day; and increase patronage that will provide a commercially self sustaining service which underpins accessibility between Truro, Penryn and Falmouth, and helps to strengthen the sustainable travel strategies for each of these areas.

The project will increase accessibility, meet the demand for travel without increases in car usage, and provide capacity that will meet travel demands associated with new development initiatives in Truro, Penryn and Falmouth. The scheme also forms part of the Truro Transport Strategy and will be integrated with the new bus based park and ride service which will open this summer on the A390 at Langarth Park, Threemilestone. Rail passengers will be able to purchase a joint rail and bus ticket which will allow them to catch a bus at Truro Station to take them onto their final destination.

Cornwall County Councils Executive Member for Strategic Planning and Transport Matt McTaggart (Lib Dem) said "This is a great scheme that by increasing the capacity for rail passengers will remove car users from the congested road between Truro and Falmouth and reducing environmental pollution".

Cornwall County Councils Executive Member for the Economy Andrew Mitchell (Lib Dem) said "As a 'Community Rail' designated link, the Truro to Falmouth rail improvement scheme presents an opportunity to demonstrate sustainable transport which can support economic development initiatives, improve access to key services and ensure that environmental objectives are met in addition to wider social and economic aims".

Diana Mompoloki, Head of Convergence for the South West of England Regional Development Agency - which is the managing agent for the ERDF Convergence Programme in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said: "This is the first investment to be approved under Convergence and evidence that the programme is already starting to deliver for Cornwall. This improved rail link will have a significant economic impact, helping to boost productivity by reducing travel times, reinforcing the links to the Combined Universities in Cornwall and helping to underpin environmentally sustainable growth in Truro, Penryn and Falmouth."

The Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership works to promote the Truro - Falmouth 'Maritime' Line and other rural railways in the two counties. The Partnership's Manager, Richard Burningham, said "This is great news. The Maritime Line has been getting busier and busier over the last few years with 67% more