Major package of rail improvements for Cornwall
4 Jul 2014 11:08 AM
Multi-million pound
package of rail improvements for Cornwall and the south-west
announced.
Cornwall will benefit from a
multi-million pound package of rail improvements that will lift the local
economy, create new jobs and provide faster train journeys, the Prime Minister
announced yesterday (3 July 2014).
The £146.6 million deal
has tourism at its core. Passengers travelling by sleeper train into the county
will be able to start their holiday relaxing in newly refurbished
carriages.
The deal will
ensure:
- the interior of the Night
Riviera Sleeper trains, which run between Penzance and London - one of only two
sleeper services in the UK - will be completely overhauled
- the Long Rock train maintenance
site at Penzance will be expanded to maintain Cornwall’s sleeper trains,
safeguarding jobs and creating new training opportunities
- a major programme of signalling
improvements will start five years earlier than planned, providing faster
journeys between Penzance and Totnes and paving the way for the potential
introduction of half-hourly services on the Cornish mainline.
Prime Minister David Cameron
said:
Ensuring that we have first
class infrastructure across Britain is a crucial part of our long-term economic
plan to back business, create jobs and provide a brighter future for
hardworking people. This investment, which will boost the local economy and
improve connectivity, is great news for Cornwall, the south-west and
beyond.
The package includes £9
million of funding from the Department for Transport (DfT), £29.6 million
secured through Cornwall Council and the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local
Enterprise Partnership (LEP), £103.5 million from Network Rail and
£4.5 million from train operator First Great Western.
Transport Secretary Patrick
McLoughlin said:
Rail travel in Cornwall is
growing rapidly, and investing in the rail network here is crucial to securing
long-term economic growth. These improvements will safeguard and create jobs,
improve services for millions of passengers and provide better access to the
south-west of England. This is great news for Cornwall and for the wider
economy as a whole.
Nearly 7 million passengers use
the rail network in Cornwall every year, with passenger numbers growing twice
as fast as the national average.
Yesterday’s funding comes
off the back of real investment in the region. The government has given local
authorities in the south-west more than £900 million to spend on local
transport during this parliament, with £130 million being spent on
improving the region’s roads this year, including the A303 and
A30.
Bert Biscoe, Cornwall
Council’s cabinet member for transportation, said:
This announcement is great news
for Cornwall. We have been working closely with the LEP and First
Great Western to improve our rail services and are delighted that the
government is supporting our plans. This is a real opportunity to develop
Cornwall’s public transport network. Enhancing the main line signalling
in Cornwall is just as important as dualling the A30 and building the Tamar
Bridge in keeping Cornwall connected.
Chris Pomfret, chair of the
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly LEP, said:
Transport connectivity is always
one of the first issues identified by the business community as a barrier to
Cornwall’s economic growth. This investment makes a major step forward in
addressing this issue through an enhanced sleeper service and potentially a
more regular and resilient link to London and the rest of the
country.
Perhaps, just as importantly, is
that this is a real demonstration of a council and LEP and the two
relevant rail bodies and the Department for Transport working together to
produce a solution that benefits all parties, but most particularly, the people
of Cornwall.
Patrick Hallgate, Network
Rail’s Western route managing director, said:
The south-weest has a vibrant
economy which is experiencing staggering growth in demand for rail travel. That
can only be supported by putting in the best possible connections to the rest
of the country. Network Rail is proud to be playing a part in that success
story.
Mark Hopwood, First Great
Western managing director, said:
At First Great Western we have a
great track record of working with local authority partners and the wider rail
industry to deliver significant improvements of real economic value for the
communities we serve.
This package enhances the
improvements already planned to the Night Riviera sleeper to a whole new level,
providing top class accommodation and introducing a brasserie-style bar
area.