Network Kernow - Soon To Become Reality Or Just A Mirage?

[whole diary]

[Lee]

Cornwall County Council has agreed to lead a bid for ^5m of European funding to help pay for a ^7m passing loop in the track at Penryn station to allow trains to pass. They hope that this could lead to a twice-hourly service between Truro and Falmouth (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/6545483.stm

This plan features in the Network Rail Business Plan 2007 (Page 17 of the link below) and , unlike some similiar schemes in the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) area , actually has a completion date (2008) which means that it is very likely to go ahead.
http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/BusinessPlan2007/PDF/Route%2012%20Reading%20to%20Penzance.pdf

For those who havent read it yet , here is a link to the full plan.
http://www.networkrail.co.uk/aspx/3085.aspx

Bear in mind that , when looking at infrastructure improvement sections , if it hasnt got a date then it hasnt been approved yet.

Returning to Truro - Falmouth , remember that First Great Western will have to agree to run the improved service before the EU^» (European Union - about) money can be approved. Christian Wolmar has some wise words to say on this subject , using the Stroud Valley Line as an example (link below.)
http://www.christianwolmar.co.uk/articles/rail/551.shtml

"And even when the line does get redoubled, Great Western is likely to want to see a reduction in its premium payments for running any extra trains that would be allowed by this enhanced capacity as they may not pay for themselves."

If a 2tph Truro - Falmouth service became a reality then it could be a first step towards the fulfilment of the following section of the Greater Western Franchise agreement :

"developing and promoting an interurban network for Cornwall to be known as "Network Kernow"

Here is a link to the Cornwall & Scilly Urban Survey.
http://www.historic-cornwall.org.uk/index.htm

The survey concentrates on 19 towns (see map link below.)
http://www.historic-cornwall.org.uk/towns.htm

Of these , 12 have railway stations.

Saltash had its service slashed by 25% (to be improved slightly.)

St Ives & Newquay both had large service cuts proposed (St Ives had theirs pulled back) They are both branch line terminals , which means that both would suffer from the recently announced regressive Network Rail track renewals policy (link below.)
http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=420.msg1242#msg1242

You will notice that Looe (also a branch line terminus that had service cuts proposed) is not classed as an urban area.

This leaves Penzance , Hayle , Camborne , Redruth , Truro , St Austell and Liskeard , all of which are on the main Penzance - Plymouth line and emerged relatively unscathed (but not totally) from the recent franchise replacement process.

It also leaves Falmouth & Penryn. There are two ways of looking at the situation there.

1) Quote from the Network Rail Business Plan 2006 (Page 9 of the link below.)
http://www.networkrail.co.uk/documents/3110_Route%2012%20Reading%20to%20Penzance.pdf

"We plan to increase capacity between Truro and Falmouth by introducing a train passing facility and extended platform at Penryn station. This will permit two trains to operate on the branch at one time instead of the one train operation that currently exists."

2) Quote from the link below.
http://www.moorestephens.co.uk/website/uk.nsf/pages/sectors.shipping.ports

"We performed a feasibility study into proposals to develop a container terminal in Falmouth."

The guage is more suitable for freight trains from Falmouth eastwards.

I cant find any information on "Network Kernow" but there are new proposals under the Greater Western Franchise for a First Group led "Kernow Connect" card (a similiar ticket , Ride Cornwall , is already available , click on http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=986.msg2758#msg2758) that will replace existing schemes to enable combined bus/rail travel in the county (link below.)
http://db.cornwall.gov.uk/ltp/marchannex3/section_1042612311302.html

The link above also details Cornwall County Council's bus / rail interchange plans , which surely would be much more effective with an improved rail service rather than a reduced one.

[Andy]

Does anyone know if work has started on the installation of a passing loop at Penryn? Does this involve the (re) opening of the second platform there?

It is very encouraging to see that money is being invested in this line as at some point in the future it really could form part of a cross-county inter-urban service connecting Falmouth, Penryn (with its university campus) and Truro with Newquay on the north coast - via a reopened Burngullow-Parkandillack-St. Dennis Junction branch with a reversal at St Austell. Connecting bus services between Newquay station & Newquay airport and to the Eden project would complete a link that would serve the county's main port, main holiday resort, main tourist attraction, main airport, only university campus and its commercial/administrative capital.

[Scooby]

Work has NOT started at Penryn, the loop will only use the exsisting platform face with the loop starting half way along it. This keeps it cheap without the need to reinstate the second platform and provide footbridge access....

[Andy]

Thanks for the information scooby. Sounds like a sensible approach. I heard that FGW^▸ (First Great Western) also wants the Long Rock-Penzance stretch redoubled. Do you have any info on whether that is likely to happen (soon)?

[Lee]

Long Rock - Penzance re - doubling comes under "Route enhancement aspirations" (Page 20 of the link below.)
http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/BusinessPlan2007/PDF/Route%2012%20Reading%20to%20Penzance.pdf

Lowest priority , dont expect anything to happen soon.

[Andy]

Too bad. I think there's real potential for a successful summer park-and-ride scheme at Marazion (for St Michael's Mount) as part of a Penzance-Marazion-St Erth-St Ives service but imagine that this could only go ahead if the track were doubled all the way into Penzance.

[Lee]

Going back to the urban area point , Liskeard , Looe and Saltash are set for a housing boom (link below.)
http://thisiscornwall.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=144125&command=displayContent&sourceNode=232450&contentPK=17982208&folderPk=108202&pNodeId=232470

As , indeed , is Plymouth (link below.)
http://thisisdevon.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=143632&command=displayContent&sourceNode=142719&contentPK=17995242&folderPk=91672&pNodeId=201778

A massive marina development is also planned at Falmouth Docks (link below.)
http://thisiscornwall.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=144125&command=displayContent&sourceNode=232450&contentPK=17990550&folderPk=108202&pNodeId=232470

[Lee]

Cornwall County Council has agreed to lead a bid for ^5m of European funding to help pay for a ^7m passing loop in the track at Penryn station to allow trains to pass. They hope that this could lead to a twice-hourly service between Truro and Falmouth (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/6545483.stm

We're keeping all the 153's that are currently in service with us, only 158's going back.

Very interesting , as vacman's quote directly contradicts what Andrew Griffiths said at the recent WWRUG^» (West Wiltshire Rail Users Group - about) meeting in Westbury. He has been saying all along that FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are to lose this Class 153 unit in December 2007.

If vacman is correct , then the decision to retain this unit must have been made very recently.

Thankyou , vacman. It would appear that your comment has lead to a bit of an "exclusive" (see e - mail below.)

Lee

We have been able to renew the unit lease from December as refresh cover and then nominally for the Falmouth scheme.  NB the funding for both the unit and the operating costs of the WSB^» (Westbury - next trains)-SOU shuttle has *not* been retained.

Regards,

Andrew Griffiths
Regional Manager, Central (Severn & Solent)
First Great Western

[Lee]

Cornwall County Council has agreed to lead a bid for ^5m of European funding to help pay for a ^7m passing loop in the track at Penryn station to allow trains to pass. They hope that this could lead to a twice-hourly service between Truro and Falmouth (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/6545483.stm

We're keeping all the 153's that are currently in service with us, only 158's going back.

Very interesting , as vacman's quote directly contradicts what Andrew Griffiths said at the recent WWRUG^» (West Wiltshire Rail Users Group - about) meeting in Westbury. He has been saying all along that FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are to lose this Class 153 unit in December 2007.

If vacman is correct , then the decision to retain this unit must have been made very recently.

Thankyou , vacman. It would appear that your comment has lead to a bit of an "exclusive" (see e - mail below.)

Lee

We have been able to renew the unit lease from December as refresh cover and then nominally for the Falmouth scheme.  NB the funding for both the unit and the operating costs of the WSB^» (Westbury - next trains)-SOU shuttle has *not* been retained.

Regards,

Andrew Griffiths
Regional Manager, Central (Severn & Solent)
First Great Western

Further to this , FGW have confirmed that the extra Falmouth line services have been agreed.

[vacman]

Was aware of the Falmouth deal being finalised, good news for Falmouth!!!