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Friday 14 Nov 2025

Access for All at St Erth as new footbridge with lifts is officially opened

Region & Route:

Wales & Western: Western

Passengers at St Erth can now enjoy step-free access for the first time after a new footbridge with lifts was officially opened this morning (Fri 14^th November) by Rail Minister Lord Hendy.

Lord Hendy was joined by representatives from Network Rail, GWR and Cornwall Council to mark the occasion, with the Grade II-listed station now fully accessible.

Built in 1852, St Erth station is the interchange for the iconic St Ives branch line, which welcomes more than a million passengers a year. The new footbridge, part of the Department for Transport’s Access for All scheme, makes using the station easier and safer than ever before. Previously, passengers needing assistance to change platforms were taken by a shuttle bus.

Weighing 50 tonnes, the new footbridge deck was lifted into place by a 1,000-tonne crane in October last year. The old footbridge at the station was carefully dismantled and is set to be rebuilt at Cranmore station on the East Somerset Railway – a heritage steam railway.

The work continues Network Rail’s investment on the line to support the community, tourism and local businesses. In addition to the new accessible footbridge, work has taken place at St Erth station to improve lighting, CCTV and the platforms.

The station is home to Cornwall’s first multi modal hub, a project led by Cornwall Council with support from the European Regional Development Fund, to improve links between the station, A30 and bus services. 

Bogdan Lupu, Industry Programme Director for Network Rail, said:

“We’re delighted to have delivered these improvements at St Erth station alongside the Department for Transport, GWR and Cornwall Council to make rail travel a better and more accessible option for all. 

“Following the comprehensive resignalling project which we delivered last year and our work to complete the Mid Cornwall Metro scheme now in its final few days, it’s an exciting time for passengers across Cornwall. The new accessible footbridge makes St Erth an important part of that.”

Rail Minister, Lord Hendy, said:

“It was great to open the new footbridge and lifts at St Erth station today, made possible thanks to our Access for All programme.

“This will make a huge difference not only for disabled passengers, but everyone who uses the station, including families holidaying to beautiful Cornwall with luggage in tow.

“There should be no barriers to using our railways, which is why just last week we published our Accessibility Roadmap to deliver real, day-to-day, improvements for passengers ahead of Great British Railways.”

GWR Business Assurance Director Joe Graham said:

“We’re delighted to officially open these facilities, and the major improvements you can see around me – ensuring that even more people can take full advantage of the benefits that rail has to offer.

“St Erth is a really important station for the community, for both residents and visitors alike and we are delighted to have been able to work with Network Rail and Cornwall Council, to deliver these improvements, making the station fully accessible for the first time in its history.

“We know that working together means we can deliver more and we are committed to a cooperative, collaborative approach with the communities we serve.”

Cllr Dan Rogerson, Cornwall Council’s portfolio holder for transport, said:

"I am delighted to welcome Lord Hendy to St Erth today to officially open this new accessible footbridge. This investment is a major step forward in making our transport network inclusive for everyone, ensuring that passengers with mobility needs can travel with confidence and ease. 

"St Erth is a key gateway for West Cornwall, enabling vital connections between mainline and branch line services. This improvement complements our vision for a modern, integrated transport system that supports residents, businesses, and visitors alike. By linking rail, road, and bus services through the St Erth Multi Modal Hub, we are creating sustainable travel choices that can help reduce congestion and carbon emissions while boosting our local economy. 

"This project demonstrates what can be achieved through strong partnership working with Network Rail, GWR, and the Department for Transport, and we look forward to continuing this collaboration as we deliver further enhancements across Cornwall’s rail network in future." 

ENDS