Call for extra train station in Truro city centre

Posted By on 16 December 2023

By Lee Trewhela

An ex mayor of Truro has called for a former railway station in the centre of the city to be reopened as part of Cornwall’s ongoing transport plans and the mooted Mid Cornwall Metro (MCM) train proposals.

Cornwall Council’s cabinet again backed the Metro plans at a meeting last week.  The scheme would link the north and south coast by providing an hourly direct train service on the existing railway line connecting four of Cornwall’s largest urban areas: Newquay, St Austell, Truro, and Falmouth/Penryn.

The MCM would receive funding of £49.9m from the Department for Transport’s Levelling Up Fund with a Cornwall Council contribution of £6.6m.

Off the back of those plans, Truro’s former mayor and a previous head of transport at Cornwall Council, Bert Biscoe, has suggested reopening a railway halt in the heart of the city.  He has written to Truro’s current mayor Carol Swain asking for the city council to support such a move.

He said: “We are currently seeing much talk about a so-called ‘Metro Line’ between Falmouth and Newquay.  Whilst there is scepticism about the demand in either town for a travel link to the other, there is very clear demand in both for travel to Truro.

“However, Truro railway station is somewhat severed from key public services and commercial opportunities, including retailing, commerce and the professions.  The continuing evolution of plans for the ‘Metro Line’ strengthen the already good case to establish a passenger halt at Hendra Lane near Truro Crown Court.

“There is a disused ‘cattle dock’ (which once served the livestock market) which could be re-purposed; it is close to the town centre and to Truro Bus Station, which provides services to the hospital, industrial estates and, of course, the town centre including Pydar Street.”

Photo: Truro museum

He added that the massive Langarth housing development on the outskirts of the city includes within its transport plans the provision of a rail halt at Hugus which, linked to a local shuttle bus service, could support Treliske, Truro College, industrial estates and residential communities at Threemilestone and, possibly, Shortlanesend – “all with the potential outcome of reducing traffic pressure on the A390, improving accessibility for people, and enhancing socio-economic opportunity”.

Cllr Biscoe, who sits on Truro City Council, added: “Penryn and Falmouth have seen a very significant population growth over the past quarter century, not least as the result of the development of higher education at Tremough and Wood Lane.  Newquay is currently midway through the development of its so-called ‘growth area’, and Truro is seeing progress at Langarth.  Making best use of the local rail network, and directing what investment can be attracted to it via the Cornish Transport Plan, seems only sensible and long-term.

“I believe we should seek the active support of both Truro and Newham BIDs in such advocacy, and should include necessary provisions in the forthcoming review of the Truro and Kenwyn Neighbourhood Plan.”

BBC Local Democracy Service

Related Posts

This article has 4 comments

  1. Well we’ve had “Bertie the Bus” so I guess we should give “ Bertie the train” a chance just to see what a mess they can make of that. Interesting idea about a station at Hugus as there is no way on earth people will walk or cycle from there to the great Langarth!

    • I don’t know the area – why wouldn’t people walk or cycle to a Hugus station? Is there a hugus-mungous hill involved? There’s a man in Launceston who maybe still has a funicular railway in storage if that would help

  2. I had to look up where both Hugus and Hendra Lane are. I can see the point of Hugus given Langarth, but Hedra Lane is only 300m closer to Boscowan Street than the existing station (600m and 900m on foot). It hatdly seems worth it unless Bert is proposing moving the main station.

    They are only 500m apart and there is the viaducts and access to consider. Perhaps more useful would be to improve the walking route from the existing station to the center. The current narrow pavement along a busy road is hardly conducive to active travel.

    It might involve demolishing a building, but linking Brunel Court at the station with a new path to John St would greatly improve matters. Maybe with an escalator for the steepest bit.

  3. Interesting. It’s a shame that Truro Station isn’t closer to town centre but bus connections etc have adapted to this. It’s reassuring that Bert is suggesting minor amendments to the Metro proposal. He clearly accepts that there are wider social benefits stemming from rail developments, which is fine with me. A future stop at Hugus wouldn’t directly affect the Metro, but I can see this intensifying the intra-Cornwall use of the Plymouth to Penzance rail spine.

Comments are closed.