It is a bit different to the 1712 to Hampton Court, so maybe this should be tried in London

Richard Burningham, Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership

Since then a 70-strong partnership of local authorities and other parties has been using jazz to promote the Tarka line, the Tamar Valley line, the Looe Valley line, and the Newquay branch line.

Mr Burnigham said: "We use a four-piece jazz band so there is lots of noise and fun.

"What we hope is that it will get people thinking about using the branch line, people who have not thought about it before."

The heyday of the branch lines was in the late 1950s when there was mass tourism to the West Country and a relatively low car ownership.

But in the 1960s timetables were cut and the Gunnislake line was threatened with closure.

In 1966 the line to Looe was saved just two weeks before it was due to close.

Local interest

Cash for "The Select Four" jazz quartet comes from partners including Devon and Cornwall County Councils, Plymouth City Council, the University of Plymouth, and Wessex Trains.

A recent study of the Looe line showed it contributed half a million pounds a year to the Looe's local economy.

On Wednesday, the jazz band will play on the 1946 GMT and 2042 GMT trains from Truro, and the 2011 GMT and 2053 GMT services from Falmouth docks.

Mr Burningham said: "In the evening the trains tend to be fairly quiet - it is a bit different to the 1712 to Hampton Court, so maybe this should be tried in London, it might be a bit radical."