The railway through Penzance is set to receive track improvements, commencing this weekend, with amended train services and bus replacement services to keep people moving.
The work is to be carried out by Network Rail and will extend between Penzance and Truro, and the St Ives Bay line.
Great Western Railway continues to operate over 90% of its pre-Covid train timetable, but to allow for train travellers to be able to socially distanced with ease, the operator is asking those intending to do so to plan ahead and to check journey times before travelling.
The main line remains open and amended train services will operate through Cornwall towards Plymouth with roughly one train per hour in each direction.
Long-distance services from London Paddington to Devon and most of Cornwall will continue to operate. Replacement buses will connect with trains, adding up to 50 minutes to journey times. Some times may change and passengers are advised to check before they travel.
Mark Chorley, GWR Regional Station Manager, West, said: “We have been working hard to make sure that people can be confident to travel safely, and that includes running as many trains and carriages as we can to make extra room, and replacement buses where trains cannot operate, as well as enhanced cleaning and social distancing measures.
“This work is important to ensure we can continue to maintain and improve reliability and we thank customers for their patience in advance.”
Lee Hildreth, Network Rail’s Project Manager, said: “We thank passengers in advance while we carry out these vital upgrades across Cornwall and remind them to check before they travel.
“The improvements will help provide passengers with more reliable journeys and represents further investment in the railway in Cornwall following recent signalling upgrades in the South West.”
Images: Network Rail
