Hourly Mid Cornwall Metro rail service to launch this month

Great Western Railway says the first phase of the Mid Cornwall Metro project will launch on Sunday 17 May, with a new hourly train service between Newquay and Par.

The rail operator says the increased service has been made possible by the introduction of new Class 175 trains, alongside infrastructure improvements carried out by Network Rail.

GWR says the changes represent a major step forward for transport links in Cornwall, improving access to employment, education and tourism.

Newquay attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, and the rail operator says the more frequent service is expected to boost the visitor economy while helping reduce car dependency.

The summer timetable will also include the return of daily direct train services between London and Newquay.

The Mid Cornwall Metro project is backed by £56.8m in Government Levelling Up funding and will eventually provide direct rail connections between Newquay and Falmouth via St Austell, Truro and Penryn.

GWR says its new timetable, launching on 17 May, represents one of the biggest expansions of rail connectivity across the South West and Wales in recent years.