Platform extensions at Stations on the St Ives Line

[whole diary]

[bobm]

Have now caught up with the works at Lelant.

The platform has been extended by 13 metres - unusually by carrying out work at both ends.





However, and perhaps not surprisingly given the cost, the opportunity wasn't taken to raise the platform height.



As a result of the extension the foot crossing has been moved slightly closer to St Ives



...but possibly only for use at low tide!

[Mark A]

Um, it used to descend onto a slipway or pier there. I can't recall if stairs were involved.

Mark

[eightonedee]

How thoughtful of Network Rail - a special exit for all those smugglers you keep being told about when you visit Cornwall!

[Mark A]

A bit of a riff on St Erth station, in its new role as park and ride.

'Reasons' yesterday gave me the opportunity to change from the branch onto the 18:00 London train at St Erth at the end of yesterday afternoon, and the junction station's new role as park and ride certainly needs quite a lot of admin, even with the modest sized ( and moderately rammed) 2 carriage St Ives train.

The overall impression was that the branch is thoroughly capacity constrained - not sure how this is working for long distance rail passengers as they'll be at risk of being displaced by the park and ride people.

First up, St Ives... there wasn't much opportunity to buy a ticket *from* St Ives as the ticket machine was flakey, a queue attempting to purchase, and in any case the machine didn't seem to know about railcards. Once on the train, there was no space for the train crew to come through and check tickets.

Once at St Erth, the accesses between the bay platform and the up main platform being for the most part closed off with tape, either single use or barrier tape, the returning park and ride people were channeled through the station building and, for the people heading for the down-side car park, back on to the platform and over the bridge - at the entrance to which there was a sign that said hopefully "No queueing on the bridge" - not sure how that was meant to work.

The very few people heading for the long distance connecting train were able to head in the same direction and discover the remaining exit(s?) to the up line platform of their own acccord. When the park and ride people had passed, the entire end of the station behind the buffer stops was taped off to send any one else up the ramp. (The cafe there appears to have been a victim of covid, which is a pity as it would now have far more passing trade perhaps with their landlord requiring a greatly increased rent)

All this needed the prescence of I think at least 2 staff to manage things.

The levels may well favour a step-free underpass, someone has probably considered one and then baulked at the cost of such structures in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom).

A notice states that for anyone unable to use the overbridge, GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) will provide a complimentary taxi, presumably between up and down platforms.

So, St Erth is much busier - though possibly, the fare box has suffered a hit as a result, and also, two carriages on the branch in July doesn't match the numbers presenting.

After the ride on the branch, I do now know the words to the following nursery rhyme:

"Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream. If you see a crocodile, don't forget to scream.'

Mark

[REVUpminster]

It's surprising GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) cannot make up a four coach train although they have yesterday and today.
For the last week or so 4 166s have been operating Paignton Exmouth and only 6 150s to do the rest of the service. 9 150s do Gunnislake and the Cornwall branches leaving 5 spare.

As for tickets maybe the staff on the platform could issue tickets. They supplement Paignton's ticket windows with a ticket seller in the booking hall on Saturdays.