St Erth interchange

[Sussex Ben]

Hi all - long time lurker, first time poster here…

Next week I intend to travel between Camborne and St Ives with the family, and we’ll need to take a double pushchair with us. Unfortunately it looks like there isn’t a lift at St Erth to easily change platforms, but would like to be able to make the journey without carrying kids and pushchair over the bridge due to a current injury of mine.

Any thoughts please on ways we could make this journey, or are we better off (sadly) just driving?

 

[Iskra]

It would take you longer, but could you not just walk around the road instead? I can't deduce whether there is a pavement all the way from google maps.

 

[221129]

Any thoughts please on ways we could make this journey

Going to Penzance and then back would be one way, or there is a longish walk out through the Park And Ride then back on yourself over the road bridge to the other side.

 

[rower40]

You'd probably be OK to change additionally at Penzance - i.e. Camborne to Penzance (where you can get to all platforms on the flat) Penzance to St Erth, then it's cross-platform to the St Ives branch platform. Just explain it to the guard when you board at Camborne. (If he says it's not OK, then he'll have to lift your pushchair over the bridge!)
(Beaten to it by 221129)

 

[221129]

If he says it's not OK, then he'll have to lift your pushchair over the bridge!

That's not how it works...

 

[rower40]

Also - Driving into St Ives is pretty-much a no-no anyway. There's almost no parking, and extremely narrow streets. So if you are in the car, then drive to St Erth and use the "new" Park-n-ride there.
(I write "new" just because the last time I used the Park-n-ride, it was at Lelant Saltings!)

 

[Sussex Ben]

It would take you longer, but could you not just walk around the road instead? I can't deduce whether there is a pavement all the way from google maps.

As you say, google maps isn’t completely clear. It suggests we’d probably have to cross the main road twice as there is only a pavement on the opposite side of the road. Not ideal, but the connections are long enough that we’d probably get away with it

You'd probably be OK to change additionally at Penzance - i.e. Camborne to Penzance (where you can get to all platforms on the flat) Penzance to St Erth, then it's cross-platform to the St Ives branch platform. Just explain it to the guard when you board at Camborne. (If he says it's not OK, then he'll have to lift your pushchair over the bridge!)
(Beaten to it by 221129)

Thanks (@221129 too!). I had wondered about going via Penzance, but wouldn’t be keen on paying for the extra distance if we could help it. We’d be travelling on privs, so we may benefit from a bit of leniency as a result.

Slightly off topic, but I note that journeys from Truro and east thereof to St Ives appear to have an easement to double back via Penzance, but this doesn’t seem to apply to local journeys.

Also - Driving into St Ives is pretty-much a no-no anyway. There's almost no parking, and extremely narrow streets. So if you are in the car, then drive to St Erth and use the "new" Park-n-ride there.
(I write "new" just because the last time I used the Park-n-ride, it was at Lelant Saltings!)

Agreed, I’ve only driven into St Ives once - in February when the station car park had plenty of space. Certainly wouldn’t want to at this time of year!

 

[221129]

Slightly off topic, but I note that journeys from Truro and east thereof to St Ives appear to have an easement to double back via Penzance, but this doesn’t seem to apply to local journeys.

Interesting, I am sure I have seen something about this, although having not been down there for a good few years now I am not sure. Maybe @RPI could shed some light?

 

[fgwrich]

Thinking about it for the moment, it may take a little longer than the train but have you thought about taking the T2 Bus by First Kernow? Saves on the driving and the issue of changing at St Erth then, and will get you from Camborne to St Ives then.

 

[221129]

Thinking about it for the moment, it may take a little longer than the train but what about taking the T2 Bus by First Kernow? Saves on the driving and the issue of changing at St Erth then.

Might be an issue with a double pushchair if it is busy?

 

[Cameron Bowden]

When I was there in September last year, there was a bus driving from the car park side to the bay platform side for people who couldn’t use the bridge. Perhaps that is still in operation?

 

[SouthWalesSam]

I'd say get the First Kernow T2 from Cambourne. Or into Penzance and bus it from there, there's a lot to be seen on the buses! (Spent time down there at Falmouth University)

 

[221129]

I'd say get the First Kernow T2 from Cambourne. Or into Penzance and bus it from there, there's a lot to be seen on the buses! (Spent time down there at Falmouth University)

Which will also be a lot more expensive.

 

[Sussex Ben]

Thinking about it for the moment, it may take a little longer than the train but have you thought about taking the T2 Bus by First Kernow? Saves on the driving and the issue of changing at St Erth then, and will get you from Camborne to St Ives then.

I'd say get the First Kernow T2 from Cambourne. Or into Penzance and bus it from there, there's a lot to be seen on the buses! (Spent time down there at Falmouth University)

My previous experience of First Kernow is that they are astronomically expensive (I think we paid around £15 for two St Austell to Mevagissey returns a few years ago), so the train at priv rate is likely to win hands down on this occasion. Even if it’s a bit (or a lot) more hassle…

 

[fgwrich]

Which will also be a lot more expensive.

Possibly not if a Ride Cornwall is purchased. And the First Kernow “Anywhere” tickets are pretty reasonable too, particularly if bought on the First Bus App. Plus the Deckers used on the T1/T2 will take a double pushchair.

 

[221129]

Possibly not if a Ride Cornwall is purchased. And the First Kernow “Anywhere” tickets are pretty reasonable too, particularly if bought on the First Bus App. Plus the Deckers used on the T1/T2 will take a double pushchair.

Unless it is Cheaper than the £1.95 for an Anytime Day Return, it will be more expensive.

 

[83G/84D]

When I was there in September last year, there was a bus driving from the car park side to the bay platform side for people who couldn’t use the bridge. Perhaps that is still in operation?

The bus mentioned is currently running. When alighting from the train exit the platform via the ramp and a small accessible minibus will take you over to the other side of the station. There is step free access from there to the St Ives train.

 

[Sussex Ben]

The bus mentioned is currently running. When alighting from the train exit the platform via the ramp and a small accessible minibus will take you over to the other side of the station. There is step free access from there to the St Ives train.

That looks like the best option so far without needing to drive

Thanks for all your replies, all options gratefully received. Hope all goes to plan on the day now!

 

[Sussex Ben]

Following all your helpful advice, we made the journey last week and can confirm that the Park and Ride shuttle bus worked well for us, even if we nearly missed the train to St Ives following a 4 min delay to the train from Camborne.

Just a shame that a diesel bus was deemed an acceptable solution when a lift would have been a more obvious solution for the new P&R site, but that’s a matter for another day!

 

[RPI]

Following all your helpful advice, we made the journey last week and can confirm that the Park and Ride shuttle bus worked well for us, even if we nearly missed the train to St Ives following a 4 min delay to the train from Camborne.

Just a shame that a diesel bus was deemed an acceptable solution when a lift would have been a more obvious solution for the new P&R site, but that’s a matter for another day!

Its a sore subject (probably for another thread) but basically Network Rail tried to get permission to demolish the current footbridge and replace with an accessible one but we're denied due to it being listed

 

[Ianno87]

Just a shame that a diesel bus was deemed an acceptable solution when a lift would have been a more obvious solution for the new P&R site, but that’s a matter for another day!

Using an electric bus would strike me as being the "obvious" solution here.

(Although with the footbridge listing preventing an accessible bridge, we do have to ask ourselves whether we want our railways to be a heritage museum or a functioning, accessible and inclusive transport system)

 

[yorksrob]

I'm sure when I was there last week there was a sign saying they'd get people a taxi to the other side if they couldn't use the footbridge. (I'd still check first though).

 

[bramling]

Using an electric bus would strike me as being the "obvious" solution here.

(Although with the footbridge listing preventing an accessible bridge, we do have to ask ourselves whether we want our railways to be a heritage museum or a functioning, accessible and inclusive transport system)

St Erth is a beautiful station, so in this case I’d say a solution would need to be found which pays attention to heritage. The two shouldn’t need to be mutually exclusive.

 

[Ianno87]

St Erth is a beautiful station, so in this case I’d say a solution would need to be found which pays attention to heritage. The two shouldn’t need to be mutually exclusive.

The least-intrusive space for a new bridge would appear to be towards the "country" end of the platform and the station approach underbridge. Although then I suspect the constraint is the relatively narrow width of the platform past the current footbridge.

 

[Cliveblackpool]

The least-intrusive space for a new bridge would appear to be towards the "country" end of the platform and the station approach underbridge. Although then I suspect the constraint is the relatively narrow width of the platform past the current footbridge.

IMO a ramped subway would be the best solution. No lifts to maintain, no staff needed & unobtrusive. West end of station between road bridge and platform. Unfortunately probably the most expensive solution