Letter of encouragement is sent to group by minister

By mjarvis

A SUPPORT group for the Newquay-Par branch line has urged townsfolk to "take the train" after receiving an encouraging letter from government Transport Minister Andrew Adonis.

Lord Adonis came along for a ride on the branch line back in April to see the improvements and problems first hand, following a request by The Friends of the Atlantic Coast Line (FoCAL) group.

And FoCAL have issued a rallying call to the people of Newquay and surrounding areas this week to use the rail services, in a bid to justify further improvements.

The Newquay Guardian reported earlier this month how First Great Western, Network Rail and county council chiefs are discussing the potential for a direct rail link between Newquay and Falmouth.

Further improvements, such as better links for main line services to Truro and Plymouth for commuters as well as reducing journey times between Newquay and Par are also being pushed for by the FoCAL group.

Fruition

Geoff Mason-Brown, press spokesman for FoCAL, said the people of Newquay and outlying villages had to keep using the services, if improvements were to come to fruition.

"We know that First Great Western lose money on this commuter service at the moment," he said.

"We pledged that we would do everything in our power to promote this line if they gave us the extra trains (an increase from four to seven).

"The FoCAL group is asking you all to take a train ride this winter. It is not expensive and there are the many that have yet to experience the pleasures of a train ride.

"This will encourage the authorities to keep the current service, to push for a park and ride and the additional line and platform required at Newquay as well as a passing loop nearer Newquay for any additional services.

"As the situation stands with only one passing loop on the line at Goonbarrow, the line is occupied for one-and-a-quarter hours while a rail unit travels to Newquay and back, which places a significant limit on the frequency of any service."

December 2008 saw the introduction of a seven trains a day service – which took the FoCAL group two years of research presentations and lobbying to achieve.

Considered

As reported in last week's Cornish Guardian, a second railway station is also being considered for the town at the planned park and ride scheme, close to Hendra Holiday Park.

Lord Adonis has urged the FoCAL group to keep on pushing for better services.

"It was good to see the local developments on the line and particularly the improvements to the timetable which have been brought about over the last few years," he said in a letter to FoCAL's vice chairman Alan Nicholson-Florence.

"FoCAL and the wider Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership (which includes First Great Western and Cornwall Council) are to be commended for their work to develop the line.

"I would strongly recommend you (FoCAL) continue to work with Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership to market the line.

"The more passengers there are, particularly in the quieter times of the year, the more justification for investment and money that will be available for investment."