A £3million upgrade of the railway line in west Cornwall is taking place. Picture: Network Rail Network Rail says the completion of a £3m track upgrade of the St Ives Bay line will help to provide a more reliable railway for passengers in Cornwall, just before the G7 summit takes place in Carbis Bay. Over the past five weeks, Network Rail has completed its biggest track investment in Cornwall since the 1950s, renewing the track on the St Ives Bay line between Carbis Bay and St Ives. The railway line reopens today (Monday 8 February) following the successful completion of work to lay around 1.5 miles of new track and install 3,600 new sleepers and over 400 tonnes of new ballast - which is the stones that supports the track.
Network Rail said it should bring a reliable railway to the west of Cornwall. Work is beginning to renew the track on the St Ives bay line between Carbis Bay and St Ives from Sunday, January 3 until Monday, February 8, with the £3million cost representing the largest track investment in Cornwall since the 1950s. Over the five-week period around 1.5 miles of new track, 3,600 new sleepers and more than 400 tonnes of new ballast – the stones that supports the track – will be installed. GWR will operate a half-hourly replacement bus service between St Ives and St Erth during the day, but in order for passengers to socially distance with ease the operator is asking those planning to travel to plan ahead and check journey times beforehand.