Passengers travelling through Cornwall next month are being urged to plan ahead as Network Rail prepares for a week of engineering work that will temporarily close part of the main line. The upgrades, scheduled from Monday 1 to Friday 5 December, will affect services between Truro and Penzance, with replacement buses operating throughout the five-day period.

The project involves substantial track renewal near Redruth, where engineers will install 1,200 yards of new rail, sleepers and ballast across the Grade II-listed Redruth viaduct. A further 300 yards of track will be replaced near Camborne, while additional track equipment will be upgraded around Penzance and St Erth. The work aims to improve reliability on one of Cornwall’s busiest rail corridors.

With the line closed to trains, bus services will substitute between Truro and Penzance, and rail tickets will be accepted on local buses between St Erth and St Ives. Services between Truro and Falmouth Docks will continue to operate as normal, but no trains will call at Redruth, Camborne, Hayle, St Erth, Penzance or stations on the St Ives Bay Line. CrossCountry services will also be suspended between Truro and Plymouth during the works.

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. Replacement bus services will be in place, so please make sure to check your journey before travelling.”

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. Replacement buses will run between Truro and Penzance and rail tickets can be used to travel on the 17 or 17A buses for St Ives. It’s important that customers are aware these alternative travel arrangements will make journey times much longer, so please plan ahead.”

Image: Network Rail