The Glorious St Ives Branch Line - Tue 18th June 2024

Welcome to this railway video from the St Ives Bay branch line in Cornwall.

It was recorded on Tuesday 18th June 2024 (Running Time 27 minutes 57 seconds.

The train journey to St Ives is said to be one of the most scenic in Britain.

There are spectacular views as the line sweeps alongside the beautiful Hayle Estuary before you get you first glimpse of the sea with miles and miles of golden beaches, translucent waves, and deep blue skies.

The area enjoys a micro-climate with very mild weather throughout the year and there were clear blue skies and lots of sunshine on the day of my visit.

The railway is relatively short at just four and a quarter miles long and the journey from St Erth (on the Cornish main line) to the terminus at St Ives takes on average around 11 minutes.

It was opened in 1877 and like the Looe Valley Line was threatened with closure as part of Dr Richard Beachings ‘Restructuring of Britains Railways’ plan back in the 1960’s. However, both lines were saved from closure and are now flourishing. In fact, the St Ives branch attracts over 700,000 passengers every year.

As well as St Ives, I called in at each of the intermediate stations along the line at Carbis Bay, Lelant, and the former park and ride station at Lelant Saltings.

When park and ride facilities were switched to St Erth on the Cornish main line in 2019, the GWR decided to maintain the platform at Lelant Saltings by operating a ‘parliamentary service’ whereby just 2 trains call at the station every day (one in the direction of St Ives and one in the direction of St Erth).

Despite having my roots in the West Country I have never travelled this railway in the past and I can honestly say that it is a journey that will live long in the memory.

Thank you for watching the video and I hope you will enjoy watching it as much as I enjoyed filming it.