Planned engineering in Cornwall in autumn 2023

Signalling improvements will affect train services in Cornwall this autumn.

Network Rail is carrying out a multi-million pound programme to improve the signalling in Cornwall. This work will see the replacement of older-style signals and signalling equipment with brand-new, modern technology.

Once complete, this will help to improve train service reliability and reduce delays incurred by signalling issues.

In order for this work to be done, the Cornish Main Line will be temporarily closed in various stages with buses replacing trains on affected routes.

When trains will be affected

Sunday 10 September

The line between Plymouth and St Erth (including branch lines to Newquay and Falmouth Docks) will be closed.

Tuesday 31 October to Sunday 12 November

This closure will affect trains in three phases:

Tuesday 31 October to Sunday 5 November – Line closed between St Austell to St Erth (including the branch line to Falmouth Docks)
Monday 6 to Friday 10 November – Line closed between Liskeard to St Erth (including branch lines to Newquay and Falmouth Docks)
Weekend of 11 and 12 November – Line closed between Plymouth to St Erth (including branch lines to Looe, Newquay and Falmouth Docks)

Monday 20 November

The branch line between Liskeard and Looe will be closed for level crossing upgrades.

How services will be affected

Tuesday 31 October to Sunday 5 November

Route	Frequency	End-to-end journey time
St Austell – Truro – St Erth – Penzance	Hourly	1 hour 35 minutes
St Austell – Penzance (stopping at all stations)	Hourly	1 hour 55 minutes
Truro – Perranwell* – Penryn – Penmere – Falmouth Town – Falmouth Docks	Half-hourly	55-60 minutes

Monday 6 to Friday 10 November

Route	Frequency	End-to-end journey time
Plymouth – St Austell – Truro – St Erth – Penzance	Hourly	3 hours 5 minutes
Liskeard – Bodmin Parkway – Lostwithiel – Par – St Austell	Hourly	1 hour 20 minutes
St Austell – Penzance (stopping at all stations)	Hourly	1 hour 55 minutes
St Austell** – Newquay (stopping at all stations)	Every 2 hours	1 hour 10 minutes
Truro – Perranwell* – Penryn – Penmere – Falmouth Town – Falmouth Docks	Half-hourly	55-60 minutes

Weekend of 11/12 November

Download a PDF version of this map of services in Cornwall on 20 November (PDF, 417 KB).

No trains will run between Liskeard and Looe.

Network Rail will be upgrading Terras Crossing (a level crossing between Sandplace and Looe) with new equipment to better protect trains and road users.

It will also remove the need for the train to stop before the crossing – improving journey times and service reliability.

During this time:
- Buses will replace trains between Liskeard and Looe
- A taxi will serve Coombe Junction Halt. Running to/from Liskeard only
- All other trains in Cornwall will run as normal
Buses will depart Liskeard and Looe at similar times to the normal timetable, however, departure times at other stations will be earlier than normal so check carefully before travelling.

Route	Frequency	End-to-end journey time
Plymouth – St Austell – Truro – St Erth – Penzance	Hourly	3 hours 5 minutes
Plymouth – Liskeard – Bodmin Parkway – Lostwithiel – Par – St Austell	Hourly	2 hours 5 minutes
Plymouth – Saltash – St Germans – Menheniot* – Liskeard	Hourly	1 hour 10 minutes
St Austell – Penzance (stopping at all stations)	Hourly	1 hour 55 minutes
Liskeard – St Keyne* – Causeland* – Sandplace* – Looe	Hourly (No service on Sunday)	25 minutes (non-stop) 35 minutes (stopping)
St Austell – Newquay (stopping at all stations)	Every 2 hours	1 hour 10 minutes
Truro – Perranwell* – Penryn – Penmere – Falmouth Town – Falmouth Docks	Half-hourly	55-60 minutes

Replacement bus stop locations

Buses will stop at the front of the station, except at the following locations.

Station	Replacement bus stop location
Bugle	Entrance to Valley View Park before the railway bridge and entrance to Station Road
Causeland	Duloe village bus stops by the turning for the Community Shop
Camborne	10 September only – Front of the railway station 31 October to 12 November – Camborne Bus station
Falmouth Town	Bus stop on the main road at the side of the station, by the bridge
Hayle	To Penzance – bus stop on Penpol Terrace near Lloyds Bank To Truro – bus stop on Penpol Terrace near the McColls store
Lostwithiel	All buses depart from the St Austell-bound bus stop on the A390, opposite the Royal Talbot
Luxulyan	On the main road at the station entrance
Par	Eastcliffe Road bus stops near the station approach road
Penmere	Penmere Hill
Quintrell Downs	Bus stops either side of the level crossing
Redruth	To Penzance – bus stop at the front of the station To Truro – bus stop on the opposite side of the road by the traffic lights
Saltash	Fore Street bus stops, near the Co-Op store
St Germans	End of the station approach road on the Platform 1 side of the station
St Keyne Wishing Well Halt	St Keyne village bus stops by the turning for Lametton Bungalows

Can’t see your station in this list?

This means that replacement buses will stop at the front of the station or in the station car park.

For details of replacement bus stop locations at any station in Great Britain, visit the National Rail website.

Facilities on replacement buses

Buses on main line routes

We will provide coaches on most replacement bus services. Most of these will be equipped with toilet facilities which can be used at the driver’s discretion.

On services operating between Plymouth and Penzance, there will also be a 10-minute pause at St Austell on all services to allow customers to use the toilets at the station if required.

Buses on branch line routes

Buses replacing trains on branch lines will normally be single or double-decker buses with no toilet facilities.

Have a question about our replacement buses?

Please visit our Replacement Buses page for all the information you need, including:

Types of replacement buses we use
Travelling with animals, bikes, pushchairs or large items of luggage
Changing between train and bus
Accessibility

Help with your journey

If you are not able to travel on our replacement services, an accessible taxi can be arranged for you. You can do this by:

Booking assistance through our Passenger Assist programme
Speaking to a member of staff at the station on the day of travel*
Using the Help Point available at all of our stations on the day of travel*

*please allow additional time as an accessible taxi may not be available immediately. Booking in advance is the best way to ensure a smooth journey.

Still have questions?

If there is something you would like to ask us, get in touch with our team on social media, on Facebook or Twitter.