Newquay To Par Passenger Numbers Surge After Mid Cornwall Metro Launch

Passenger numbers on the Newquay to Par line rose sharply during the first week of new Mid Cornwall Metro services, according to Great Western Railway.

Between Sunday 17 May and Saturday 23 May, journeys on the route were almost 25 per cent higher than during the same week in 2025. GWR recorded 726 additional journeys across the week, including 429 more on the Saturday alone, when passenger numbers increased by 50 per cent.

The figures were announced as a celebration event was held at Newquay on Monday 1 June to mark the first phase of the Mid Cornwall Metro and what has been described as the best service on the line since the 1960s.

The May timetable introduced by GWR has brought 15 local trains between Par and Newquay from Monday to Friday, 14 on Saturdays and eight on Sundays. The operator said this is a new record for the Atlantic Coast line.

Summer direct services between London Paddington and Newquay have also returned, increasing the number of weekday services to 17.

The Mid Cornwall Metro is a £57m scheme funded by Cornwall Council and the UK Government. It is designed to improve rail connections between Newquay, St Austell, Truro and Falmouth/Penryn, four of Cornwall’s largest towns.

The project aims to create a more sustainable transport corridor through central Cornwall, improving access to jobs, education and key services for local communities.

Funding linked to the programme has also brought pay-as-you-go ticketing to Cornwall, giving residents access to the best-value on-the-day fares.

Network Rail has delivered major infrastructure improvements to support the enhanced service. These include bringing platform 2 at Newquay station back into passenger use and installing a passing point so two trains can operate on the branch at the same time.

Class 175 trains have also been introduced on a phased basis since December last year, offering more capacity and improved comfort for passengers while supporting reliability and performance.

Rail Minister Peter, Lord Hendy, said:

“It’s brilliant to see so many people already making the most of the new Mid Cornwall Metro between Newquay and Par – and this is just the beginning. This transformative project is all about boosting connections for both local people and tourists between Cornwall’s north and south coasts. That is why the Government invested £50 million into this project, which, in its first fortnight, is already unlocking access to jobs, education, health, leisure and tourism, and creating economic growth. This comes as we accelerate towards Great British Railways – the new, publicly owned company that will build and run a railway the public can rely on and be proud of.”

St Austell & Newquay MP, Noah Law, said:

"The opening of the Mid Cornwall Metro represents an important step forward for connectivity for Newquay in particular. Next year will herald the full timetabling, connecting two of Cornwall's most vibrant seaside towns. Still, there is a long journey ahead for connectivity, particularly in what must be done for residents in the clay country, and I hope we can build on this excellent project as we see more investment coming into Cornwall in the years ahead."

Cornwall Council cabinet member for transport, Cllr Dan Rogerson, said:

“We want to give residents more sustainable choices for how they travel in Cornwall – and Mid Cornwall Metro is about doing just that. Our partnership with GWR, Network Rail and Government has seen significant growth in passenger numbers on the Cornish mainline and branch lines over recent years which shows that when we invest in reliable, accessible public transport, residents choose to use it. Cornwall Council has played a leading role in this project and we will continue to work with all partners to improve transport options for the people of Cornwall.”

GWR Head of Strategic Service Development, Matt Barnes, said:

“These early passenger figures are hugely encouraging and show there is real demand for more frequent rail services in Cornwall. Mid Cornwall Metro is already making it easier for people to travel between communities for work, education and leisure, while helping support the local economy and more sustainable travel choices. We’ve always known these services would be transformational and these figures reflect the strong partnership working that has gone into delivering this major improvement for the region.”

Network Rail Devon & Cornwall programme director, Chris Fuoco, said:

“It’s great to see the immediate impact of our hard work and the efforts of everyone involved to bring Mid Cornwall Metro to life. The new service will benefit communities long into the future and demonstrates the value of investing in rail.”

Image: Great Western Railway