Network Rail has successfully completed several upgrades on the Newquay branch line and the line has reopened as planned.

At the end of January Network Rail engineers worked around the clock on the branch line to remove and replace old rails, sleepers, and ballast at Roche and Bowling Green, near Bugle, as part of essential upgrades to the railway in Cornwall.

During the work, 870 metres of new track were laid, and 1,300 sleepers and 2,600 tonnes of ballast installed.

Trains will now continue to run safely and smoothly and provide a reliable service for passengers between Newquay and Par.

Follow-up work will be carried out overnight on Wednesday, 2 and Thursday, 3 February, and Monday, 7 and Tuesday, 8 March, but train services will be unaffected.

Lee Hildreth, Network Rail project manager, said: “I’m pleased that we have completed these important upgrades to the Newquay branch line and the railway has reopened as planned.

“This work was particularly challenging for our engineers due to the location of the track and it being a single line. This made removing the old track and components and transporting the new materials logistically difficult.

“It’s never a good time to close a branch line such as Newquay so I’d like to thank passengers and local residents for their patience while we completed this vital upgrade and hope they enjoy a smoother, more reliable railway line.”

Steve Double, Member of Parliament for St Austell and Newquay, said: “I am pleased to see Network Rail’s vital work on the Par-Newquay line carried in a quick and timely manner, to ensure the continued resilience of this importance stretch of railway for commuters and visitors alike. Thank you to the team who worked 24/7 to ensure its completion in deadline.

“This is a first step towards upgrading this important branch line and I will continue to work with Network Rail, Cornwall Council, and the Department for Transport to secure further funding for improvements in the coming years.”