Mid Cornwall Metro project moves forward

Infrastructure consultancy AECOM is to take the Mid Cornwall Metro project through to the detailed design stage. 

The company has already completed the outline design and business plan for the scheme. 

The announcement follows Cornwall Council Cabinet members agreeing to provisionally accept the offer of £50m Levelling Up Funding towards the delivery of the £56.8m Mid Cornwall Metro initiative in December. 

Mid Cornwall Metro, led by Cornwall Council, Network Rail and Great Western Railway, will create a sustainable transport corridor between the county’s north and south coasts. 

It will improve the current links between four of Cornwall’s largest urban areas - Newquay, St Austell, Truro and Falmouth/Penryn. 

The scheme has been designed to improve connectivity for people living, working and studying in the county. 

Passengers currently must take three trains to travel from the north to the south of the county.

Susan Evans, Rail, Structures and Ground Engineering director at AECOM said: “It’s fantastic news that we’re able to significantly progress Mid Cornwall Metro. 

“The scheme will be transformative for the local community by improving access to jobs, education and amenities through improved transportation and mobility connections. 

“It will offer a more sustainable alternative to car use, with wider scheme initiatives such as station improvements and ticket digitalisation delivering a better user experience for passengers.”

AECOM is delivering the work on the Newquay branch line, which is the main scope of works. 

The line is currently a single track and AECOM will design a passing loop and additional line into Newquay Station and upgrade associated station infrastructure, platform and signalling, along with environmental enhancements.

AECOM has been appointed as engineering lead for the scheme, coordinating various disciplines including track, civils, signalling, environmental, electrical and plant and fire safety systems.

The scheme is being delivered through the South Rail Systems Alliance (SRSA), a 10-year Framework awarded in 2019 between Network Rail, Colas and AECOM for delivery of railway systems renewals across three Network Rail Regions in the South of the UK, Western and Wales, Southern and Anglia. 

Colas is the designer for the signalling and telecoms.