List of railway stations in Cornwall

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The railways in Cornwall and west Devon.

The first of the passenger railway stations in Cornwall, England, were opened in 1834. The network expanded considerably between the 1840s and 1900s. There were 81 stations in the duchy in 1960 but rationalisation of lines and stations has reduced this to just 36 National rail stations since 1989 including two opened in the 1970s. These are on the Cornish Main Line (between Penzance and Saltash where it continues across the Royal Albert Bridge into Devon) and the five remaining branch lines. There are also a small number of new or reopened stations on heritage railways.

The busiest station is Truro with more than one million passengers each year; the quietest is Coombe Junction Halt with fewer than 250.

Railway development in Cornwall[edit]

The CR station at Truro opened in 1859 (Photographed in 1892)

Early transport in Cornwall relied on coastal shipping so the first rail tracks were laid to connect the hinterland with harbours.[1] The first line to carry passengers was the Bodmin and Wadebridge Railway (B&WR) on 4 July 1834.[2]

In the west the Hayle Railway connected that port with Redruth at the end of 1837 and started a passenger service on 23 May 1843. This line was not convenient to operate but was taken over by the West Cornwall Railway (WCR) and realigned in 1852, extending it west to Penzance and east to Truro. It moved its Truro terminus to join the new Cornwall Railway (CR) which opened from Plymouth on 4 May 1859. The CR completed its line from Truro to Falmouth on 24 August 1863. The WCR and CR were financially supported by the Great Western Railway (GWR). Other branch lines were opened, either by the GWR or independent companies which were later absorbed, to places such as Fowey and Newquay (1876) Looe (1879), St Ives and Helston (1887), and Bodmin (1888). The GWR network was completed in 1905 by a long line which connected Truro with Newquay via Perranporth.[2]

Meanwhile the B&WR had been bought by the London and South Western Railway (LSWR) but remained isolated from its parent until their line through the north of Cornwall to Wadebridge opened in 1895. This was extended to Padstow in 1899. The LSWR also supported branches across the border from Devon to Bude (1898) and Callington (1908). The GWR also had a cross-border line to Launceston from 1865.[2] The LSWR became part of the Southern Railway in 1923 while the GWR continued with its same name, although absorbing the last of the still independent lines that it operated.[3]

The 1900s saw a number of small halts opened and, often, closed as the railways made an effort to keep local traffic away from trams and buses. The railways themselves operated bus routes, the first in the country being a GWR service from Helston railway station to The Lizard in 1903.[4]

During the 1960s many of the quieter stations and lines were closed, either as a result of Dr Beeching's Reshaping of British Railways or general commercial considerations. The whole of the LSWR network was closed (except for two stations on a truncated Callington line) as were many GWR branches, but this has allowed heritage and narrow gauge railways to open using parts of these old lines.

Stations on the national network[edit]

Estimated station usage based on sales of tickets in stated financial year(s) which end or originate at each station from Office of Rail and Road statistics. The methodology for calculating the number may vary between years.[5] Closure dates refer to passenger services, goods traffic may have continued to a later date.

Station Opened Closed Route Usage
1999–2000
Usage
2018–19
Notes
Angarrack 1852 1853 Cornish Main Line [6]
Bodmin General 1887 1967 Bodmin branch Reopened as heritage station 1987[6]
Bodmin North 1834 1967 Bodmin and Wadebridge [7]
Bodmin Parkway 1859 Cornish Main Line,
Bodmin branch
144,723 234,030 Known as Bodmin Road until 1983. Also used by heritage services to Bodmin from 1990.[8]
Boscarne Junction 1964 1966 Bodmin and Wadebridge,
Bodmin branch
Reopened as heritage station on new site in 1996[9]
Bude 1898 1966 Bude branch [10]
Bugle 1876 Atlantic Coast Line 1,262 5,616 [11]
Burngullow 1863 1931 Cornish Main Line Junction for goods line to Drinnick Mill[12]
Callington 1908 1966 Callington branch Known as Callington Road until 1909[13][14]
Calstock 1908 Tamar Valley Line 24,133 37,834 [15]
Camborne 1843 Cornish Main Line 112,063 266,006 [16]
Camelford 1893 1966 North Cornwall [17]
Carbis Bay 1877 St Ives Bay Line 38,410 227,854 [18]
Carn Brea 1843 1961 Cornish Main Line Known as Pool until 1875 except for a short period in 1852-1854 when it was Carn Brea[13][19]
Causeland 1879 Looe Valley Line 2,203 1,620 [20]
Chacewater 1853 1964 Cornish Main Line,
Perranporth branch
[21]
Chilsworthy Halt 1909 1966 Callington branch [22]
Coombe Junction Halt 1901 Looe Valley Line 32 204 [23]
Copperhouse 1843 1852 Hayle Railway [24]
Copperhouse Halt 1905 1908 Cornish Main Line [24]
Defiance Platform 1905 1930 Cornish Main Line [24]
Delabole 1893 1966 North Cornwall [25]
Dolcoath Halt 1905 1908 Cornish Main Line [26]
Doublebois 1860 1964 Cornish Main Line [26]
Dunmere Halt 1906 1967 Bodmin and Wadebridge [27]
Egloskerry 1892 1966 North Cornwall [27]
Falmouth Docks 1863 Maritime Line 27,050 96,726 Closed 1970, reopened 1975[28]
Falmouth Town 1970 Maritime Line 74,026 213,934 Known as The Dell from 1975 until 1989[29]
Fowey 1876 1965 Fowey branch [30]
Golant Halt 1896 1965 Fowey branch [31]
Goonbell Halt 1905 1963 Perranporth branch [31]
Goonhavern Halt 1905 1963 Perranporth branch [32]
Grampound Road 1859 1964 Cornish Main Line [32]
Grogley Halt 1906 1967 Bodmin and Wadebridge [33]
Gunnislake 1908 Tamar Valley Line 39,340 60,396 Relocated 1994[34]
Gwinear Road 1853 1964 Cornish Main Line,
Helston branch
[35]
Hayle 1843 1852 Hayle Railway [36]
Hayle 1852 Cornish Main Line 38,816 83,446 [36]
Helston 1887 1962 Helston branch [37]
Latchley 1908 1966 Callington branch [38]
Launceston North 1865 1952 Launceston branch [39]
Launceston South 1886 1966 North Cornwall [40]
Lelant 1877 St Ives Bay Line 4,823 10,632 [41]
Lelant Saltings 1978 St Ives Bay Line 99,778 138,012 [42]
Liskeard 1859 Cornish Main Line,
Looe Valley Line
207,802 351,172 [42]
Looe 1860 Looe Valley Line 68,466 117,506 Platform shortened 1968[43]
Lostwithiel 1859 Cornish Main Line 33,767 66,624 [44]
Luckett 1908 1966 Callington branch Known as Stoke Climsand until 1909[13][45]
Luxulyan 1876 Atlantic Coast Line 837 1,770 Known as Bridges until 1905[13][46]
Marazion 1852 1964 Cornish Main Line Known as Marazion Road until 1896[13][47]
Menheniot 1859 Cornish Main Line 9,652 3,696 [48]
Mitchell and Newlyn Halt 1905 1963 Perranporth branch [49]
Mithian Halt 1905 1963 Perranporth branch [50]
Moorswater 1879 1901 Looe Valley Line [50]
Mount Hawke Halt 1905 1963 Perranporth branch [51]
Nancegollan 1887 1962 Helston branch [52]
Nanstallon Halt 1906 1967 Bodmin and Wadebridge [53]
Newquay 1876 Atlantic Coast Line,
Perranporth branch
63,968 103,172 [54]
Otterham 1893 1966 North Cornwall [55]
Padstow 1899 1967 North Cornwall [56]
Par 1859 Cornish Main Line,
Atlantic Coast Line
66,379 194,644 [57]
Par Bridge Halt 1897 1908 Par to Fowey [58]
Penmere 1925 Maritime Line 57,208 191,414 [58]
Penryn 1863 Maritime Line 40,875 240,156 [59]
Penzance 1852 Cornish Main Line 406,236 570,098 Rebuilt 1890; new platforms 1937[60]
Perranporth 1903 1963 Perranporth branch [61]
Perranporth Beach Halt 1931 1963 Perranporth branch [62]
Perranwell 1863 Maritime Line 8,279 31,920 Known as Perran until 1864[13][63]
Port Isaac Road 1895 1966 North Cornwall [64]
Praze 1887 1962 Helston branch [65]
Probus and Ladock Halt 1908 1957 Cornish Main Line [66]
Quintrell Downs 1911 Atlantic Coast Line 1,019 2,684 [67]
Redruth 1843 1852 Hayle Railway [68]
Redruth 1852 Cornish Main Line 183,799 327,532 [68]
Respryn 1859 1859 Cornish Main Line Temporary station until Bodmin Road was ready for use[69]
Roche 1876 Atlantic Coast Line 545 5,090 Known as Holywell for a short while and then Victoria until 1904[13][69]
Saint AgnesSt Agnes 1931 1963 Perranporth branch [70]
Saint AustellSt Austell 1859 Cornish Main Line 238,316 460,130 Rebuilt 2000[71]
Saint BlazeySt Blazey 1876 1925 Atlantic Coast Line Known as Par until 1879 but renamed to avoid confusion with the station of that name on the main line[13][72]
Saint Columb RoadSt Columb Road 1876 Atlantic Coast Line 1,474 1,936 Known as Halloon until 1878[13][73]
Saint ErthSt Erth 1852 Cornish Main Line,
St Ives Bay Line
58,747 271,234 Known as St Ives Road until the branch line opened in 1877[13][74] Grade II listed[75]
Saint GermansSt Germans 1859 Cornish Main Line 25,970 56,698 [76]
Saint IvesSt Ives 1877 St Ives Bay Line 259,302 750,478 Relocated 1971[77]
Saint Kew HighwaySt Kew Highway 1895 1966 North Cornwall [78]
Saint Keyne St Keyne Wishing Well Halt 1900 Looe Valley Line 923 1,334 [79]
Saint LawrenceSt Lawrence Platform 1895 1966 Bodmin and Wadebridge [80]
Saltash 1859 Cornish Main Line 28,889 83,574 Rebuilt 1880[80]
Sandplace 1881 Looe Valley Line 1,575 1,274 [81]
Scorrier 1852 1964 Cornish Main Line Known as Scorrier Gate until 1896 except for the short period from 1856-1859 when it was Scorrier[13][82]
Seven Stones Halt 1910 1914 Callington branch [83]
Shepherds 1905 1963 Perranporth branch [83]
Shooting Range Platform 1885 1947 Bodmin and Wadebridge Opening and closing dates are uncertain[84]
Tresmeer 1891 1966 North Cornwall [84]
Trewerry and Trerice Halt 1905 1963 Perranporth branch [85]
Truro 1859 Cornish Main Line,
Maritime Line
578,008 1,186,886 Rebuilt 1900[86]
Truro Newham 1855 1863 West Cornwall Railway [87]
Truro Road 1852 1855 West Cornwall Railway Temporary station at Highertown[88]
Truthall Halt 1905 1963 Helston branch Known as Truthall Platform from 1906.[13][89] Reopened as heritage station in 2017.[90]
Wadebridge 1834 1967 Bodmin and Wadebridge,
North Cornwall
Rebuilt 1888[91] Grade II listed[92]

Heritage railway stations[edit]

Station Opened Closed Heritage opened Route Notes
Benny Halt 1974 Lappa Valley Steam Railway
Bodmin General 1887 1967 1987 Bodmin and Wenford Railway [6]
Bodmin Parkway 1859 1990 Bodmin and Wenford Railway Known as Bodmin Road until 1983.[8]
Boscarne Junction 1964 1966 1996 Bodmin and Wenford Railway Original platform was on a different site adjacent to the Bodmin North branch line[9]
Canna Park tbc Launceston Steam Railway [41]
Colesloggett Halt 1992 Bodmin and Wenford Railway [23]
Hunts Crossing tbc Launceston Steam Railway [41]
Launceston 1983 Launceston Steam Railway Not on the site of previous Launceston station which closed in 1966[41]
Newmills 1995 Launceston Steam Railway [41]
Trevarno 2011 Helston Railway
Truthall Halt 1905 1963 2017 Helston Railway [89][90]

Stations in use[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Guthrie, A (1994). Cornwall in the Age of Steam. Padstow: Tabb House. pp. 115–116. ISBN 1-873951-16-7.
  2. ^ a b c Clinker, C.R. (1963). The Railways of Cornwall 1809-1963. Dawlish: David & Charles. pp. 5–11.
  3. ^ Clinker 1963, p. 4
  4. ^ Cummings, John (1980). Railway Motor Buses and Bus Services 1902-1933 (Volume 2). Oxford: Oxford Publishing Company. pp. 23–24. ISBN 0860930505.
  5. ^ "Estimates of station usage". Office of Rail and Road.
  6. ^ a b c Oakley, Mike (2009). Cornwall Railway Stations. Wimbourne Minster: Dovecote Press. p. 11. ISBN 978-1-904-34968-6.
  7. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 13
  8. ^ a b Oakley 2009, p. 15
  9. ^ a b Oakley 2009, p. 16
  10. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 17
  11. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 19
  12. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 21
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Clinker 1963, p. 23
  14. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 22
  15. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 23
  16. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 25
  17. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 27
  18. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 28
  19. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 29
  20. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 30
  21. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 31
  22. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 32
  23. ^ a b Oakley 2009, p. 33
  24. ^ a b c Oakley 2009, p. 34
  25. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 35
  26. ^ a b Oakley 2009, p. 37
  27. ^ a b Oakley 2009, p. 38
  28. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 40
  29. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 41
  30. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 42
  31. ^ a b Oakley 2009, p. 44
  32. ^ a b Oakley 2009, p. 45
  33. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 46
  34. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 47
  35. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 49
  36. ^ a b Oakley 2009, p. 51
  37. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 53
  38. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 55
  39. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 57
  40. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 59
  41. ^ a b c d e Oakley 2009, p. 61
  42. ^ a b Oakley 2009, p. 60
  43. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 66
  44. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 69
  45. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 70
  46. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 71
  47. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 72
  48. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 74
  49. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 75
  50. ^ a b Oakley 2009, p. 76
  51. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 77
  52. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 78
  53. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 79
  54. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 80
  55. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 79
  56. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 85
  57. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 88
  58. ^ a b Oakley 2009, p. 90
  59. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 91
  60. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 92
  61. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 95
  62. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 97
  63. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 99
  64. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 97
  65. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 100
  66. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 101
  67. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 102
  68. ^ a b Oakley 2009, p. 103
  69. ^ a b Oakley 2009, p. 107
  70. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 107
  71. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 109
  72. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 111
  73. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 112
  74. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 113
  75. ^ Historic England. "St Erth Station (1143618)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  76. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 115
  77. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 116
  78. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 119
  79. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 120
  80. ^ a b Oakley 2009, p. 121
  81. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 123
  82. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 124
  83. ^ a b Oakley 2009, p. 125
  84. ^ a b Oakley 2009, p. 127
  85. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 129
  86. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 130
  87. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 134
  88. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 133
  89. ^ a b Oakley 2009, p. 135
  90. ^ a b "Helston Branch". Cornwall Railway Society. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  91. ^ Oakley 2009, p. 136
  92. ^ Historic England. "Wadebridge Station (1309531)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 7 June 2020.