Passengers travelling through Cornwall next month are being urged to check their journeys ahead of essential engineering work by Network Rail.
From Monday 1 to Friday 5 December, significant upgrades will take place on the route between Truro and Penzance, as part of ongoing efforts to improve reliability and performance across the region.
Near Redruth, engineers will install 1,200 yards of new track, sleepers and ballast (track stone), including work across the Grade II-listed Redruth viaduct. In addition, 300 yards of track will be replaced near Camborne, and track equipment will be upgraded near Penzance and St Erth.
To facilitate these improvements, buses will replace trains between Truro and Penzance, and rail tickets will be accepted on local buses between St Erth and St Ives. Services will continue to operate between Truro and Falmouth Docks.
Network Rail lead portfolio manager Mark Parker said:
"I'd like to thank passengers in advance for their patience as we carry out this vital work to make journeys better and more reliable in Cornwall.”
“We'll be working around the clock throughout this time to deliver these upgrades.”
GWR station manager for West Cornwall Lee Goodson added:
"This improvement work forms part of a wider rail improvement programme to ensure the continued reliability of a very important section of the railway.
During these dates no trains can stop at Redruth, Camborne, Hayle, St Erth or Penzance or at any of the stations on the St Ives Bay line.
Trains will still be able to run at Truro for Falmouth Docks as well as trains for Exeter St Davids or London Paddington. But CrossCountry trains will not be operating between Truro and Plymouth.”
Image credit: Network Rail
