There is a second chance to experience a virtual reality balloon ride between Penryn and Newquay this week, showing the route the new Mid Cornwall Metro will take across Cornwall.

Following a two-day event in Newquay last month, the technology is now coming to Penryn on Friday and Saturday this coming week.

Over the two days, Cornwall Council will be holding a drop-in event to show the work that will take place and the new facilities that will be on offer once the project is complete.

Funded by Cornwall Council and £50m of government Levelling Up Funding, it will involve upgrades to the current rail links between four of Cornwall’s largest towns and city: Newquay, St Austell, Truro, and Falmouth/Penryn.

In addition to the rail upgrades, there will also be improvements made to each of the stations to make them more attractive to visit, as well as encourage walkers and cyclists, including new cycle parking, Beryl bike hire, widened paths and better crossing points.

This include upgrading the outside Penryn Station, with improved footpaths and cycle routes to make it easier to access the university campus at Tremough.

Access to Penryn town centre via Commercial Road will see pedestrians given priority with three zebra crossings and a segregated cycle route to provide cyclists with a safer journey, with the metro project intended to kickstart the further generation of Commercial Road.

Falmouth Packet: School pupils see what changes will look like via a gamepadSchool pupils see what changes will look like via a gamepad (Image: Cornwall Council)

This week’s drop-in events will take place at The Stannary on the university campus at Tremough on Friday, March 1, from 10am to 5pm, and then again at the Temperance Hall in Lower Market Street, in the centre of Penryn, on Saturday, March 2 from 10am to 4pm.  

Like those who attended the events in Newquay earlier this month, people at the Penryn sessions can take part in the virtual reality and an immersive digital experience created by digital design partners Digital Urban, with a ‘balloon ride’ along the Mid Cornwall Metro route from Penryn to Newquay.

They will also be able to explore the changes as a pedestrian or cyclist using a gamepad, and visualise the new improved pavement layout using an interactive media table.    

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A new website, created for the project by the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership, has also been launched and will provide regular updates at https://midcornwallmetro.com/

The overall cost of the project will be £56.8 million, which includes £50m of government Levelling Up Funding.

The council and government are working with Great Western Railway (GWR) and Network Rail to make it reality.

Those behind the Mid Cornwall Metro say it will bring:

  • An hourly direct train service connecting Newquay, Par, St Austell, Truro, Penryn and Falmouth 
  • A second platform at Newquay Railway Station 
  • A new passing loop on the Newquay branch line at Tregoss Moor 
  • A doubling of the number of rail services between Newquay and Par - an extra 700,000 seats per year both ways 
  • A footbridge lift improving accessibility and interchange at Par Station 
  • Upgrades to level crossings  
  • Increased frequency of mainline services between Par, St Austell and Truro 
  • Reduced journey times and less road congestion for people living along the route  Improved walking routes, links to the bus network and Beryl Bikes
  • Accessibility improvements at rail stations and to the public areas around those stations in Newquay, Roche, Bugle and Falmouth/Penryn
  • Ticket digitalisation - providing tap-on/tap-off ‘Pay-As-You-Go’ ticketing in Cornwall.

Rail Minister Huw Merriman said: "These events are an excellent opportunity for local residents to see the sheer scale of the transport improvements to come through the Mid Cornwall Metro scheme – a project that has been made possible thanks to central and local Government funding.

"They demonstrate clearly our commitment to improving journeys across the region, and this vital infrastructure project is just one example of how we are working to make travelling cheaper, easier and quicker for everyone."

Anyone unable to attend either of the Penryn events will be able to view the proposals and take part in an online survey on letstalk.cornwall.gov.uk from the end of February.