Cornwall set to have £3m track upgrade on the St Ives Bay Line

Work will start in the new year on upgrading the track between Carbis Bay and St Ives in a £3m project by Network Rail.

In what has been described as the biggest track investment in Cornwall since the 1950s, Network Rail will be carrying out work over a 5 week period between Sunday the 3rd of January and Monday the 8th of February 2021

Around 1.5 miles of new track will be laid along with 3,600 new railway sleepers and over 400 tonnes of ballast.

While the work is being carried out, train operator Great Western Railway will be operating a half-hourly replacement bus service.

The bus will run between St Ives and St Erth and passengers are asked to plan ahead and check times before travelling.

Trains between Plymouth and Penzance will still run on the mainline while this improvement work takes place.

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Lee Hildreth, Network Rail’s project manager, said: “This is a huge piece of work, but it will make a real difference as it will reduce delays and improve reliability for passengers in Cornwall.”

“It is the biggest track upgrade for generations, and it has been planned so it can be done as safely and as quickly as possible.”

“However, buses will replace trains while the work is ongoing, so we urge passengers to check before they travel and thanks them in advance for their patience.”

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 replacement buses as we can to make extra room, as well as enhanced cleaning and social distancing measures.”

“This work is important to ensure we can continue to maintain and improve reliability on this very popular and scenic branch line, and we thank customers for their patience in advance.”

Councillor Andrea Davis, chair of Peninsula Rail Task Force, said: “At this time of uncertainty with the ongoing pandemic it is heartening that Network Rail is investing in the Cornish network, this substantial upgrade is very welcome and will give a much-needed boost to the far South West economy as we move to the recovery phase.”

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