MINISTER TRAVELS ON PAR TO NEWQUAY BRANCH LINE

1.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 14th Apr 2009

Transport Minister Lord Adonis discusses the Par to Newquay branch line with prospective MP Steve Gilbert

Lord Adonis, the Minister of State for Transport, today travelled on the Par to Newquay branch line with Steve Gilbert, the Lib Dem Parliamentary candidate for St Austell & Newquay, and saw for himself some of the issues facing local rail users.

While on the journey to Newquay the Minister, who boarded the 09:19 service from Par, met with representatives of local group Friends of the Atlantic Coast Line (Focal) and was briefed on their ideas for improvements to the service and capacity on the line.

Steve Gilbert, the prospective MP for St Austell & Newquay, which includes Par, has been working closely with Focal to address the issues faced by the branch line.

Steve Gilbert said: "For too long now the Par to Newquay branch line has been the Cinderella of railway lines in Cornwall . A little investment and joined up thinking could see the line play a key role in the area's transport needs in the future."

He added: "The immediate need is to make sure that there is a proper Saturday rail service during the summer season - that means increasing platform capacity in Newquay. In the medium term the proposed Eco-town and general housing growth planned for the area makes it vital that we invest in transport infrastructure and the branch line is perfectly placed to respond to extra demand."