The Proposed Rail Loop

The existing local rail service runs coast-to-coast in 50 minutes, from the English Channel to the Atlantic.

In his book The Newquay Branch and its Branches, John Vaughan describes the remarkable sights enjoyed by today's Atlantic Coast Line passengers:

"There can be few surviving branch lines in the UK to rival the variety of scenery to be found along the 20¾ mile permanent way between Par and Newquay.  From the south Cornish coast of Par the line runs beside the old Par Canal before climbing the lush Luxulyan Valley at 1 in 37.  This is followed by a few miles of china clay country around Goonbarrow and Bugle before the wild expanses of Goss Moor are encountered.  There follows a run through rolling farmland to the north Cornish coast at Newquay."

The branch line is owned by Network Rail and the Department of Transport has franchised only a very limited local service to First Great Western (FGW), so while the Atlantic Coast Line continues to be well used by Cornwall's many thousands of summer season visitors it is far less popular with residents for reasons which include:

• The timetabling of services fails to meet the requirements of local commuters and students.  Greater numbers of tourists and shoppers could also make better use of the line if a more frequent service were provided.

• There is no rail service between the main centres of Newquay and St Austell, while road links between the two towns become increasingly heavily congested. 

• A service that terminates at Par holds little appeal other than for the town's residents and those passengers wishing to connect to the mainline.

• Stations on the line are in need of refurbishment and improvements to access arrangements, communications and support facilities.

Focal proposes to work with FGW and other stakeholders towards addressing these shortcomings and, ultimately, towards the development of a rail loop taking in Newquay, Par, St Austell and St Dennis.

The proposed loop would offer the prospect of an enhanced local and Inter-City passenger service and freight operation, with the potential for a future heritage service, and would utilise:

• the existing Par-Newquay line;

• the existing crossover points at Par on to the main line towards Penzance;

• the existing main line from Par to St Austell and Burngullow;

• the existing Burngullow to Parkandillick freight line;

• a reinstated rail corridor from Parkandillick to St Dennis Junction (abandoned in 1966).

Such a route would benefit both residents and business.  With approximately 750,000 visitors annually, Newquay is one of the UK's leading seaside resorts, and has long been its premier surfing destination.  The town aims to further develop its appeal and extend the tourist season beyond high summer.  Development of the Branch Line could support this aim by, for example:

• Bringing additional tourists to Newquay, or transporting them from there to local attractions that exist close to Branch Line stations.  The Eden Project, for instance, operates an award-winning Eden bus service six or seven times a day from St. Austell station.

• Carrying residents and tourists beyond Newquay to the rail museum and shopping centre of St Austell and promoting local businesses and attractions in other areas.

• By retaining the heritage element of the railway (including the St Blazey turntable, one of only two remaining in the west country) and presenting local rail memorabilia, the line could attract many specialist visitors as well as tourists;

• Raising further unique opportunities to provide, for instance,  rail accommodation in the form of converted rolling stock along the line for rail enthusiasts and other visitors from the UK and beyond, thus spreading the tourist offering across the 'shoulder' months.

Focal's 'Blueprint' for the development of the Branch Line describes in detail the various considerations and opportunities involved in such a venture, and lists short-, medium- and long-term objectives that could result in its successful delivery.