Plans to double the frequency of trains between Par and Newquay in May as the first stage of the £56 million Mid Cornwall Metro have been delayed until later this year.

The work on MCM has already included the reinstatement of a second platform at Newquay for local trains, while intercity trains will continue to use the existing, longer platform.

Work to lay a 400m passing loop on the branch at Tregoss Moor between St Columb Road and Roche has now begun, while another passing loop nearer Par will also be lengthened to 400m, so that 10-car Intercity Expresses will be able to use them.

Construction at Goss Moor, which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, is being carried out at night when no trains are running, but the pace will be stepped up to 24 hours a day from 24 February until 23 March, when trains to Newquay will be replaced by buses.

Work will also take place on Ponts Mill viaduct, that carries the railway over the River Par.

The more frequent service had been set to start with the May timetable, but Network Rail said it is now expected to be launched later this year, while work is continuing on the installation of digital signals.

The hourly Newquay services are set to continue beyond Par to St Austell, Truro and Falmouth Docks next year, connecting the north and south coasts of Cornwall.

Network Rail industry programme director Bogdan Lupu said: ‘We’ve made great progress so far to bring Mid Cornwall Metro to life and this next phase will take us even closer. Our work will bring more trains to Newquay, improve the environment and boost the local economy.’

GWR head of strategic service development Matthew Barnes said: ‘We welcome the steady progress being made to deliver this scheme. These upgrades will make the track improvements necessary for us to provide more, and better, services.

‘This paves the way for us to run our first Mid Cornwall Metro trains which will provide coast-to-coast connectivity between Newquay and Falmouth via Par and St Austell.

‘Once the infrastructure works and operational preparations are complete, the first step will see us double frequency on the line between Newquay and Par, followed by the start of coast-to-coast services at a later date.’

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