The Lappa Valley Railway has welcomed the first train to arrive at the newly built platform, officially opening the first addition to the Main Railway in more than four decades.

Built in just over two months, the East Wheal Rose platform forms a key part of the park’s annual winter upgrade programme, a time when the team can focus on maintenance, enhancements, and fresh investment, ahead of the busy spring and summer seasons.

Now located closer to the Engine Shed Café and Soft Play, the new platform has been carefully designed to improve accessibility, offering easier boarding and smoother arrivals for families with pushchairs and visitors using mobility aids. A generous new concourse space also creates a brighter, more welcoming first impression for guests stepping off the train.

The development follows a record-breaking 2025, with 121,000 visitors – the highest attendance in the railway’s history – alongside continued industry recognition celebrating the park’s growth and popularity.

Lappa Valley promises more to come. Plans for a new gift shop and further improvements across the site signal an ongoing commitment to visitor experience.

“It was wonderful to welcome a train full of Lappa Friends to the first new platform on the Main Railway in around 45 years. The new location makes things much easier for families and guests with accessibility needs, and it’s an exciting first step in a much bigger redevelopment.”

Keith Southwell, Managing Director at Lappa Valley.