A sustainable multi-transport hub at the heart of West Cornwall

The St Erth Multi Modal Hub is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund and delivered by Cornwall Council as part of a plan to support sustainable transport in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. The project comprises infrastructure improvements to both the roads, pedestrian crossings and the car parks at St Erth Railway Station, which has facilitated further investment from Great Western Railway and Network Rail into the train station facilities and signalling.

St Erth Railway Station is an important asset for West Cornwall as the station is served by both mainline trains on the Penzance to Paddington route and branch line services from St Erth to St Ives. The investment into the hub is designed to provide an opportunity for West Cornwall locals, commuters and tourists to switch to a more sustainable transport solution.

There are now an additional 422 car parking spaces, including 26 disabled spaces in the new South car park, as well improvements to the North car park upping the number of parking spaces to 94, including 10 disabled spaces. As well as car parking there is now a cycle storage facility, safe pedestrian access and improvements to the bus stops, taxi rank and drop off points, making the hub a viable alternative to contributing to the heavy traffic on the surrounding roads.

The A30 Trunk Road runs immediately adjacent to the site and the junction with Station Approach has been improved as part of the project with traffic signals installed to ensure safe and efficient vehicle movements.

The hub also now provides facilities for bus operators to call directly into St Erth Railway Station in order to improve the connection between the bus and train services. The investment in the hub has enabled additional investment to improve the mainline signalling resulting in mainline train services now running every 30 minutes, with patronage on the mainline trains already recorded as increased by 40% since the hub opened.

The hub achieved CEEQUAL ‘Excellent’ rating and was awarded a CEEQUAL Exceptional Award for the restoration of contaminated land.

Chris Etchingham, Assistant Project Manager for Cornwall Council says: The improvements that have taken place at the St Erth Multi Modal Hub now provide people in the west Cornwall a genuine alternative to driving any or all of their journey.

“It’s now much more convenient for people, whether commuters, locals or visitors to the area to leave their car and use a more sustainable transport.”