Great Western Coffee Shop

http://www.westbriton.co.uk/New-Helston-railway-link-feasible-says-Cornwall/story-28578532-detail/story.html (http://www.westbriton.co.uk/New-Helston-railway-link-feasible-says-Cornwall/story-28578532-detail/story.html)

Interesting that there is no mention at all of the current preservation activity on a section of the original line, however this consideration involves a completely new route, possibly to Falmouth. Would be surprised if anything ever came of it though.....

Is "visionary language" a diplomatic euphemism for "pie-in-the-sky talk" and could we read "it's an aspiration but there's no money" as "it's nothing more than a pipe dream"?

While it is true that Helston is the largest settlement in Cornwall without a rail link of any sort and it has more than doubled in size since the closure of the branch line to Gwinear Road in 1962 (without even taking into account similar growth in its large catchment area), it does seem highly unlikely that a new rail link would be built.

However, if we're going to dream the pipe dream, it'd be insane to build a branch to connect with another branch at Falmouth; it'd be far more sensible to rebuild along the old route as far as Praze and then swing round towards Camborne, enabling a Helston-(Nancegollan-Praze)-Camborne-Redruth-Truro (platform 4) service. Ultimately, Truro could be the hub for local services west to Hayle-Penzance, south-west to Helston, south to Penryn/Falmouth and north to Newquay (via St Dennis).
 

and in another report on the same story...

http://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/14221792.Rail_link_for_Helston_could_become_reality_says_Cornwall_Councillor/?ref=mr&lp=8

..the councillor involved... "advised the Mayor not to be concerned about the cost."

This, by-the-way, is the same councillor who, holding the portfolio for transport but doesn't drive, was responsible for the installation of a ^30k bus lane in Truro which trebled journey times into the city so was scrapped after 3 weeks and will cost about the same again to remove.

Mr Biscoe has a reputation for expensive vanity projects such as the bus lane, and plans to replace a junction near Treliske with traffic lights. Simply down to his perceived reputation of wasting money it could well happen!

What he said.