PASSENGERS on the Gunnislake to Plymouth 'Tamar Valley Line' are being urged to have their say on the new rail franchise by the Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership, the non-profit body which works to promote the line.

The Government is currently consulting people on what should be included in the new franchise to run rail services throughout the West Country on the network currently operated by First Great Western. 

The new franchise is set to begin in April 2013 and last for 15 years.

The partnership is asking people to let the Government know their views on what service they want to see on the Tamar Valley Line during the franchise. 

In particular, they are asking people to write in with their support for the current train service, nine trains a day on weekdays, eight on Saturday and five on Sundays and to emphasise the need for two coaches on peak period trains.

It is very much hoped that the railway to Tavistock will reopen during the new franchise. 

In the partnership's view, key issues for the franchise are the need for the train company to work with the Tavistock project and particularly for work to be undertaken at Bere Alston Station to allow a shuttle service between there and Gunnislake, providing connections with Tavistock trains.

This would allow Gunnislake and Calstock to have more trains than at present, albeit with a change at Bere Alston, and for a much more frequent Tavistock service to be run than would otherwise be possible. 

It will be very helpful for people to write in regarding these issues, too, said manager Richard Burningham.

'The Government has made it clear it is not looking to make cuts in the new franchise but nonetheless, the more local people who can write in saying how useful the current train service is to them, the better,' he said.

'The franchise is intended to be more flexible than the existing one. 

'One of the things that needs to be guaranteed, in our view, is the number of coaches at peak times.

'As passengers know only too well, the Tamar Valley Line needs two coaches on core commuter and shopping trains and it would be great if this was guaranteed in the new franchise. Local people can help make this happen by writing in.'

The Government's consultation on the new franchise runs until March 31. Details can be found on the Department for Transport's website http://www.dft.gov.uk">www.dft.gov.uk

The address to write to is Department for Transport, Great Western franchise replacement consultation, Franchise Consultation Manager, Zone 3/14 Great Minster House, 33 Horseferry Road, London, SW1P 4DR or e-mail [email protected]">[email protected]

The Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership is a non-profit partnership of local authorities, including Cornwall Council, Devon County Council, Plymouth City Council and West Devon Borough Council, First Great Western and Plymouth University which works to promote use of and seek improvements to services and facilities on the Tamar Valley Line and other branch lines in the two counties.