Campaign to reopen railway station after 100 years

Plans to reopen a railway station which closed almost 100 years ago are being explored.

Labour MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, Luke Pollard, said Laira Station - which closed in 1930 - formed part of Plymouth Metro proposals to make travel across the city faster and easier, significantly reduce traffic congestion, and support local economic growth.

Public meetings were held at St Mary's Church on 30 May, hosted by Pollard, to hear from residents about plans to reopen the station.

The MP said the proposed development was being explored in partnership with Great Western Railway and Plymouth City Council.

"There is clear enthusiasm for better rail connections in Plymouth and reopening Laira Station would play a vital role in transforming how people travel across our city," he said.

"I think it's about time Plymouth had a proper hop-on, hop-off metro service, served by small trains that stop frequently at small stations.

"Getting around Plymouth by train is really hard and that's what this changes."

Accessibility, service frequency, integration with other transport options and the potential for wider regeneration benefits in the surrounding areas were some of the areas raised by residents.

Pollard said questions about funding and construction would be answered as the campaign developed.

He said he wanted to take the proposal to ministers "very soon".

It comes after a campaigners hailed a study into a a multibillion-pound rail link in another part of the South West as a "huge step forward".

They said the proposed line would link Okehampton to Launceston, continuing on to a new station near Bodmin and joining the existing Cornish mainline.

Ben Maguire, the Liberal Democrat MP for North Cornwall, said he would be meeting the rail minister, Lord Hendy, to discuss the plan.

"This is a really exciting project. It would massively boost our economy," he said.

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