SENIOR rail officials have pledged improvements to the much criticised Truro to Falmouth rail link.

It is likely to lead to two trains an hour between the two towns, improving commuter links and ulti mately helping to cut down on road traffic.

If all goes according to plan, the new timetable of two trains an hour from 7am until 7pm, and one an hour thereafter, will come into effect by the autumn of 2008.

First Great Western has also con firmed that high speed trains in service in and out of Cornwall were currently being totally refitted and that this work would be completed by the end of this year.

The revamped trains would be safer, more comfortable and clean er with catering facilities and serv ices upgraded. Power points for lap tops would be installed on all trains.

There was also a guarantee that the much valued sleeper service to and from London Paddington would continue and that carriages were also being updated.

Rail officials travelled to Truro to meet with Sarah Newton, who will be standing as a Conservative in the new parliamentary seat of Truro and Falmouth at the next general election, to discuss the rail situation in the Duchy. Mrs Newton, who comes from Falmouth, said afterwards that she was delighed with the outcome which was the final piece of the jig saw in the overall scheme to improve the rail service in Cornwall.

Cornwall county council was already submitting a bid to the European Convergence fund and was in the process of bidding for funding to the Regional Development Agency, said Mrs Newton.

Network Rail had undertaken work to ensure the track could deliver a two trains per hour service. All that was needed for the project to go ahead was the commitment from First Great Western to deliver the trains and service.

"I am delighted that the First Great Western team visited Cornwall to discuss improvements in train services to and from the county and particu larly the vital Truro-Falmouth branch line.

"Improved and integrated transport is essential for the future economic prosperity of Cornwall and the generation of higher skilled and better paid employment for local people."

The pledge by First Great Western to negotiate with the county council for the delivery of the serv ice as part of the European Convergence fund bid was a real step forward.

"I believe improvements to this branch line are essential to ease the congestion of people commut ing by car to work between Falmouth and Truro as well as preventing the horrendous problems of accommodating the cars that students are driving to Penryn and the CUC and leaving in the streets of the town," she added.

The expansion of University College Falmouth has already led to hundreds more people coming to the area and as accommodation becomes more diffi cult to find, travelling from other areas is the only option.

Two trains an hour will also enable students liv ing along the train route to reach their lectures and activities at Tremough and those working in Truro or Falmouth and travelling between the two towns, to be more assured of getting and to and from their destination.

Discussions are also expected to take place at the CUC in an effort to get students to leave cars at home and to make more use of public transport.

Dualling of the track between Falmouth and Truro or the provision of extra stations were not discussed.