Celebrating Success, November 2008

75% INCREASE IN NEWQUAY BRANCH SERVICES

From Monday 15 December 2008 the number of passenger train workings on the Newquay branch in Cornwall  will increase from four to seven round trip workings, Mondays to Saturdays.

This service improvement has been made possible by negotiation and cooperation between the Focal Group, the Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership and First Great Western. 

To celebrate the forthcoming new service a Celebration was organised by Focal on Tuesday 11 November 2008 when the 11.33 Par to Newquay was retimed to 11.41 so that speeches could be made and a two minute Remembrance Day silence could be held for all railwaymen who died in service for their country.  This was followed by the sounding of 'the last post'.  

On the balloon infested train a jazz band played, champagne was served and John Vaughan provided a commentary on the journey along the line.  Encouraging speeches were made at both Par and Newquay, some 132 years after similar speeches were made on the opening of the Cornwall Minerals Railway to passengers in 1876.

Included amongst the 50 invited guests were Lady Mary Holborow, the Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall, Charles Howeson, Chairman of First Great Western, the Mayors of Restormel Borough Council and Newquay, Councillors from local Parish and Town councils and Cornwall County Council, railway company managers including Network Rail, local business representatives and Parliamentary Candidates.

On arrival at Newquay welcome speeches were followed by a ceremonial waving of green flags and a reception held at the Great Western Hotel.

FGW Chairman Charles Howeson told the assembled group that the new service was all part of the company's recovery from their problems at the end of 2006, and that they are keen to support local initiatives such as this. 

FGW held the franchise for local services until 2015 and they hope the latest developments would bear fruit.  Mr Howeson also announced that FGW's high summer weekday Paddington to Newquay through service had been successful and would be repeated in 2009.

Newquay continues to be the only Cornish branch line to receive trains from distant
locations on summer weekends.

Overall the day was a significant milestone in promoting the Par to Newquay branch line and it is now a question of getting passengers on seats to justify the new improved service.