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23 Inspiring Rail Journeys & Days Out by Train in Cornwall

By Chris P King

Cornwall by Train - Inspiring Rail Journeys

Getting to Cornwall from London on the Night Riviera train is a classic journey that shouldn’t be missed, and all the more special as it’s the last sleeper journey within England. Taking the trip in the daytime is also highly recommended as you can enjoy the changing scenery as the train winds its way from London, through the West Country, and into Cornwall.

We’ve brought together 23 stories, photos, guides and videos to inspire you to explore to Cornwall by train. Throughout you’ll also find some money-saving tips so you can make sure you get the best value on your day out.

Cornwall By Train: 23 Inspiring Journeys & Days Out By Rail – Quick Links

Night riviera – london paddington to cornwall sleeper train.

  • Scenic Rail Journeys in Cornwall – St Ives Bay Line, Looe Valley Line, Maritime Line and Atlantic Coast Line
  • Cornish Riviera Express – London Paddington to Cornwall

More Ways to Save Money on Trains in Cornwall

Night Riviera Sleeper Train at London Paddington Railway Station

The Night Riviera Sleeper Train to Cornwall getting ready to leave from Paddington one of London’s grandest railway stations – © The Train Hacker images/Chris P King

The most romantic way of getting to Cornwall from London is on the Night Riviera sleeper train. Setting off from Paddington – one of London’s grandest railway stations – and waking up in Cornwall is, without doubt, one of the most exceptional travel experiences in Britain.

You can book a trip on the Night Riviera with both GWR  and The Train Line .

British style breakfast served on the Night Riviera Sleeper Train

British style breakfast of bacon sarnie with HP sauce, Scottish shortbread and a pot of tea or coffee – © The Train Hacker images/Chris P King

Night Riviera sleeper train – London to Penzance, Cornwall

For starters check out our London to Cornwall sleeper train photoblog – it’ll whet the appetite for this classic journey that really shouldn’t be missed.

In October 2012 I took the sleeper train to Cornwall. I was looking forward to the journey but wasn’t expecting quite the experience I enjoyed. From the First Class lounge at London Paddington to disembarking in Truro (Cornwall), it was an absolute joy.

I’ll never forget how friendly and generous the staff were, who fascinated me with their stories of life working on Britain’s sleeper trains. There was also a real sense of camaraderie among the passengers, embarking one of Britain’s last real rail adventures.

Wake up to the vibrant colours and lush landscape of Cornwall as depicted in this photo taken from the Night Riviera Sleeper Train – Image credit: Mike Fleming

The night train to Cornwall, the most romantic way to visit

This video from Visit Cornwall does a great job of conjuring up the experience and in particular the romance of sharing the Night Riviera sleeper service with someone you love. And of course, if you are travelling the Night Riviera with your partner, the bonus – along with the memories – is that you’ll get 1/3 OFF the journey with a Two Together Railcard .

Night riders: aboard the Paddington-Penzance sleeper train

Get a different take on the journey by finding out what it’s like for people commuting to London from Cornwall on the sleeper train.

…those who can afford a berth are prone to fall in love with the service the moment they step on board, and the numbers of people using it are going up at a rate of around 10% a year: nearly 30,000 people used the train last year. – ‘Night riders: aboard the Paddington-Penzance sleeper train’ – Emily Barr

The article is written by Emily Barr, the author of ‘The Sleeper’ a fictional thriller which itself is set on and inspired by the sleeper train.

For interesting facts, anecdotes and stories from commuters we recommend ‘Night riders: aboard the Paddington-Penzance sleeper train’ . It’s a great read, and if you’re not already sold on the idea of this journey, you will be after dipping into some of its fascinating stories.

Early morning scene at Truro (Cornwall) railway station after disembarking the Night Riviera Sleeper train – © The Train Hacker images/Chris P King

London to Cornwall Sleeper Train – The Man in Seat 61

As anyone scouring the internet for rail information is sure to have noticed, The Man in Seat 61 has plenty of expert advice for train travellers in the UK and further afield. His excellent guide to the London to Cornwall sleeper train contains all the information you need and a lot more.

For the journey itself, there’s detailed information on timetables, fares, how to buy tickets, what it’s like, children, luggage, bikes, pets, showers, toilets, the station lounge at London Paddington, wheelchair access and the sleeper cabins themselves. And even details about power sockets if you’re worried about keeping your devices charged up.

There’s also information on onward journeys to the Eden Project, Lands End and the Scilly Isles, plus recommended hotels in Cornwall.

The Man in Seat 61 guide to the London to Cornwall sleeper train is an excellent resource which admirably covers all the bases and some you hadn’t even thought about.

Scenic Rail Journeys in Cornwall – St Ives Bay, Looe Valley, Maritime and Atlantic Coast Lines

Travelling the branch lines of Cornwall is full of contrasts. From Truro, Cornwall’s ancient capital, you can head out to explore the county’s classic seaside resorts, picturesque villages, maritime heritage and renowned coastal stretches.

The Looe Valley Line – Liskeard to Looe

The maritime line – truro to falmouth docks, the atlantic coast line – par to newquay, the st ives bay line – st erth to st ives.

Train approaching Terras Crossing on the Looe Valley Line which is renowned for its natural beauty – Image credit: Robert Pittman

Starting in a heavily wooded valley, the line soon opens out as the river nears the sea. The last two miles between Sandplace and Looe are stunning. – Great Scenic Railways Devon & Cornwall

Nature lovers and walkers will be in their element as they journey from Liskeard to Looe on the Looe Valley Line .

Starting in the handsome market town of Liskeard, the Looe Valley Line takes you on a  meandering route to Causeland. From here you can disembark for a while to make the short walk to Duloe, a quaint village famous for its ancient stone circle. After some refreshments at a local pub, step back aboard to make your way to the picturesque seaside town of Looe.

Anytime and Off-Peak Day Return tickets between Liskeard and Looe allow a break of the journey on both the outward and return leg so you can stop at one place along the way.

If you want complete flexibility to roam when and where you like, a Looe Valley Line Day Ranger is a great value option which allows railcard discounts too.

Falmouth on The Maritime Line has something for everyone from maritime heritage to exhilarating watersports – Image credit: Tim Green

Fancy exploring winding back streets lined with quirky independent shops or maybe discovering some of Cornwall’s maritime heritage? Or, if you fancy an adrenaline rush, what about some all-action watersports like sailing, kayaking, windsurfing or snorkelling?

You’ll have all these options exploring the Maritime Line linking Truro – Cornwall’s capital city – to Falmouth , the historic and scenic harbour town.

Anytime and Off-Peak Day Return tickets between Truro and Falmouth docks allow one break of the journey so you can stop off and explore the medieval port town of Penryn along the way.

A Maritime Line Ranger gives you complete flexibility to jump on and off as many times as you want. Great value and allows railcard discounts too.

Fistral Bay in Newquay popular with surfers and sunbathers can be reached from the Atlantic Coast Line which links Par to Newquay – © The Train Hacker images/Chris P King

Cornwall is famous for its sandy beaches and crashing Atlantic breakers. Nowhere epitomises this spirit more than Newquay. The Atlantic Coast Line between Par and Newquay has plenty of countrysides, real pubs and walking trails in between.

Newquay has plenty more to offer than sea and surf though and hosts several festivals and music and cultural events in the summer. It’s a popular spot for young people, so don’t forget you can get discounted rail travel with a 16-25 Railcard .

Anytime and Off-Peak Day Return tickets between Par and Newquay allow one break in your journey so giving you plenty of time to explore and find out about the mining heritage at Luxulyan.

If you want the added freedom to explore all seven stops along the line, grab a great value Atlantic Coast Line Ranger which allows railcard discounts too.

St Ives Viaduct hugging the coastline on the short and spectacular St Ives Bay Line – Image credit: Geof Sheppard

For panoramic views as you travel the coast, the journey to the picturesque town of St Ives is probably the most scenic trip in Cornwall by train. And once you’ve arrived, there’s plenty of things to do in St Ives. Besides lounging on one of its four beautiful beaches or enjoying some seafood in a harbourside pub or restaurant, there’s the famous Tate St Ives along with numerous other smaller art galleries to enjoy.

The St Erth to St Ives the St Ives Bay Line is short and spectacular. If you grab an Anytime or Off-Peak Day Return ticket , you can stop off and visit beautiful Carbis Bay along the way.

For more flexibility to hop on and off en route, a great value St Ives Bay Line Ranger allows railcard discounts too. Groups of adults can roam together all day with a St Ives Bay Group Ranger .

The St Ives Bay Line is excellent for families if you’re lucky you may see a seal in the harbour at St Ives – Image credit: John Stratford

Nanny Pat’s Days Out: St Ives by Train

The St Ives Bay Line is excellent for families. There are plenty of places on the route for kids to explore and keep them occupied. And family days out by train are just as much fun in winter as they are in summer.

Nanny Pat’s Days Out: St Ives by Train is full of ideas and tips for a family day out by train to St Ives.

Just make sure you’re getting discounted train travel with a Family and Friends Railcard as adults get 1/3 OFF and children 60% OFF. But even if you don’t have one, you can always get a St Ives Bay Line Family Ranger which gives you the freedom to explore all day.

Cornwall is famed for its natural beauty and has some great scenic railway lines to explore. So before setting out, make sure you know about all the ways to save money on days out in Cornwall by train .

InterCity 125 high-speed train passing through Lostwithiel in Cornwall is the same train used for the Cornish Riviera Express service – Image credit: Robert Pittman

The Cornish Riviera Express – London Paddington to Penzance, Cornwall

The first train after 10am from London Paddington to Penzance has become known as the Cornish Riviera Express. It’s a service that’s been running since 1904. If it didn’t sound enticing, enough here’s a way to inspire you to take this classic journey to Cornwall by train.

Cornish Riviera Express: On a Slow Train to Yesterday

Capturing the age of steam this nostalgic look at one of Britain’s classic rail journeys Brian Jackman revisits adventures from his youth. It brings the Cornish Express to life with lots of history and anecdotal stories.

He details the journey as it weaves its way from London, skirting past the flanks of Salisbury Plain, before entering the West Country proper. Onwards he really brings the trip to life as it continues through Devon to include the scenic English Riviera Line, where it navigates the banks of the River Exe before riding along the coast at Dawlish.

Leave England and enter Cornwall via the Royal Albert Bridge built by Brunel to span the River Tamar – Image credit: Robert Pittman

As he crosses Brunel’s Royal Albert Bridge over the River Tamar he leaves England to enters Cornwall. Continuing on through Truro he swaps trains in St Erth, avoiding Penzance and heading straight to St Ives instead.

You can relive the nostalgia for yourself on the Cornish Riviera Express from London to Cornwall , an incredible rail journey from the capital and through the West Country.

There’s plenty of ways to save money on train travel in Cornwall on days out or longer trips

We all know that you’ll get a better deal on train tickets by buying in advance and travelling off-peak, But you should also make sure you’re not paying additional charges by getting tickets direct from rail companies such as Virgin Trains .

And don’t forget to make the most of national railcard discounts and get 1/3 OFF travel for adults and 60% OFF for children. Everyone can benefit from railcards, whether you’re a young person , travelling in a pair , taking the family or are over 60 .

Residents of Cornwall can get similar reductions on rail travel with a Devon and Cornwall Railcard . This card is a bargain at just £10 per year. It lets kids go for £1 and up to two adults getting a 33% discount.

Explore more of Cornwall with rail passes and see the wonders of the county such as spectacular St Ives

If you’re planning on seeing as much as possible in one day, a Ride Cornwall Ranger may be just the ticket. It offers unlimited rail travel in Cornwall (including journeys to and from Plymouth) for adults, children and families.

Travellers who want to spend more time in Cornwall and other parts of the region may want to consider the rail rover tickets available in south-west England .

If you’re not a UK resident and travelling to Britain from overseas, meanwhile, you can travel in Cornwall with a BritRail South West Pass .

Travelling through Cornwall by train is full of contrasts, from coast to countryside and through picturesque villages and bustling towns. Taking the trip from London is a great way to start exploring Cornwall by rail and one you’re unlikely to regret, especially with all the money-saving deals on offer.

Image credits: Mike Fleming , Robert Pittman , Tim Green , Geof Sheppard , John Stratford , Robert Pittman , Robert Pittman ,

May 13, 2016 at 4:07 pm

Cornwall is wonderful. I must visit again soon and I intend to travel all the branch lines. It is too long since I did my last trip, described here if you’re interested, there by Night Riviera via London, back by Cross Country via Birmingham: https://mwtrips.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/the-cornish-riviera.html

Thanks for your blog, and Twitter posts

May 13, 2016 at 9:44 pm

Yes, I’d like to travel on all the branch lines as well. Especially so after doing the research for this article! There’s definitely some classic journeys and hidden gems. I’ve taken the sleeper from London Paddington to Cornwall as well. Top notch service and quality. Thanks for your tweets and sharing your article.

Chris (The Train Hacker)

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5 Most Scenic Train Journeys in Cornwall

5 Most Scenic Train Journeys in Cornwall

Five train journeys in cornwall that are all about the adventure.

Cornwall has long been famed for its picturesque scenery and breath-taking landscapes. From moor to coast and everything in-between, this corner of the British Isles has more than its fair share of natural beauty, and what better way to see it than by train! There are some beautiful branch train line rides and also some breath-takingly beautiful steam train rides in Cornwall to be enjoyed, and they really aren’t publicised enough. For this reason, we thought we’d put together our top 5 scenic train journeys in Cornwall for you to experience whilst staying at Trevigue. Enjoy!

St Erth to St Ives Branch Line

The scenic branch line from St Erth to St Ives follows the sweeping crescent of St Ives Bay with awe-inspiring views of the sea from the train window as you pass Carbis Bay and Hayle Towans. The journey takes approximately 20 minutes and is an easy and visually beautiful way of getting to St Ives as parking can sometimes be tricky in the town itself. You can park your car in St Erth, enjoy the short pleasant train ride, and then stroll into St Ives harbour from the station to enjoy the shops, art galleries and restaurants. You could also consider taking The St Ives Bay Line real ales tour. See the  rail ale trail  website for distinctive pubs serving real ales and situated within walking distance of the St Ives Bay Line.

  • Tip Sit on the right-hand side of the train when you get on at St Erth for the best views
  • Cost £4 (adult off-peak day return)
  • Journey Time 20 minutes
  • Dogs Welcome Yes
  • Booking and Ticket Info

st ives to st erth train in cornwall

Tamar Valley Line

Perhaps one of the most picturesque train journeys in Cornwall, this line from Gunnislake to Plymouth stops at Plymouth’s historic Royal Naval dockyard, Calstock and all the stunning coastal and riverside places along the way. This branch line follows the River Tamar as it wends its way through 14 miles of countryside and crossing the Calstock viaduct which joins Devon and Cornwall. You will also cross Brunel’s famous Tamar Bridge – a momentous feat of engineering – before travelling through areas once busy with mining activity. If you love Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and historic places of interest, this Cornwall train journey is for you.

  • Tip When the train slowly creeps down over the Calstock viaduct120 feet over the river, look closely out of the window and see the National Trust house Cotehele nestled in the woods below.
  • Cost £5.80 (adult off-peak day return)
  • Journey Time 35 minutes

calstock viaduct train

Atlantic Coast Line

This popular train line from Par to Newquay treats passengers to a truly Cornish train journey through the beautiful Luxulyan Valley and across Goss Moor before the great Atlantic Ocean breaks into view on arrival into surf town Newquay. This route can get very busy in summertime as despite it being only a small branch line, it is the main train route into Newquay town. Once in Newquay there is a popular aquarium (The Blue Reef), many restaurants and pubs and with 8 beaches it is a popular town for surfers, sun worshippers and families alike.

  • Tip Hop off the train in Luxulyan for stunning walks and a valley-full of a rich mining heritage waiting to be discovered.
  • Cost £4.90 (adult off-peak day return)
  • Journey Time 50 minutes

newquay to par branch line

Bodmin and Wenford Steam Railway

If you’ve always wanted to experience the glory days of steam-powered locomotives by experiencing an authentic steam train journey in Cornwall, the Bodmin & Wenford Steam Railway is for you. All through the year the heritage railway puts on events such as ‘Santa by Steam’ or the beautifully nostalgic ‘Dining by Train’ where you can enjoy dinner, or an afternoon tea surrounded by the sights and smells of the evocative steam train journey from Bodmin General Station to Bodmin Parkway. You will follow the Camel Trail and take in stunning woodland views. Trains run intermittently during off-peak seasons so do check online (or call 01208 73555) for services.

  • Tip Stop at Colesloggett Halt, a peaceful wayside station set amongst the most beautiful scenery, to enjoy a 1.5mile walk along a footpath to Cardinham Woods where there is a charming woodland café serving up the most delicious cakes!
  • Cost £13 (adult off-peak day return)
  • Journey Time 1hr 45mins
  • Dogs Welcome Yes (£1 per ticket)

Steam Trains in Cornwall

Looe Valley Line

The journey down to Looe from Liskeard is chock-full of beautiful views; heavily wooded valleys teaming with wildlife open out to glorious estuary views as the river meets the sea. Starting in a heavily wooded valley, the line soon opens out as the river nears the sea past St Keyne Wishing Well Halt and Sandplace. This is one of the most perfect train journeys in Cornwall for bird watchers, especially at low tide, because the river is full of wading birds such as egrets, grey herons, oystercatchers and curlews. Trains run regularly throughout the day. Looe is blessed with some great local independent pubs full of character, such as The Jolly Sailor which dates from 1516.

  • Tip Don’t nod off for the last two miles as the stretch between Sandplace and Looe are simply stunning!
  • Cost £4.40 (adult off-peak day return)
  • Journey Time 1 hour

Looe valley line train

We can’t wait to welcome you to Trevigue and introduce you to this beautiful corner of the UK. Experiencing it by train is perhaps the most picturesque and evocative way of exploring Cornwall and makes it easy for non-drivers to be able to navigate the stretch of coastline for which Cornwall is famous. Please do get in touch to tell us about your favourite train journeys in Cornwall, and further afield too!

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On the Luce travel blog

One-week coastal Cornwall by train itinerary

Posted on Last updated: December 11, 2023

Explore Cornwall by train in just one week on this rail itinerary packed with beaches, gardens, castles and pretty fishing villages as you travel from St Ives to Falmouth, Newquay, Looe and Plymouth.

* This site contains affiliate links , where I get a small commission from purchases at no extra cost to you.

One-week coastal Cornwall by train itinerary

Surf on golden beaches, visit colourful fishing villages, walk rugged coast paths, admire tropical gardens and feast on Cornish pasties and cream teas as you travel from St Ives to Plymouth though Falmouth, St Austell, Newquay and Looe in just one week.

And you can do it all without a car on this Cornish rail journey, exploring the far south-west of England along some of Cornwall’s most beautiful coastal and countryside railways. This Cornwall by train itinerary will show you which trains to take, how much they cost, how to book tickets and what to see, do and where to stay along the way.

One-week Cornwall by train itinerary

One-week coastal Cornwall by train itinerary map

Day 1: St Ives

Start your Cornwall by train trip with a full day in St Ives . If you’re travelling from London, you can catch the Night Riviera Sleeper overnight service to Cornwall – one of only two sleeper trains in the UK. The train departs from London Paddington at 23.45 (excluding on Saturdays) and arrives into St Erth at 07.42 the following morning.

Choose from a seat or a single or twin sleeper compartment with washbasin (and shared toilets at the end of each carriage), and there’s a café-bar in the lounge car. Then change in St Erth onto a local train for the 10-minute journey along the St Ives Bay Line.

Grab a seat on the right side of the train for great views as the line hugs the coastline, running alongside the wide sandy beaches of Hayle Towans and Carbis Bay. Then you have the rest of the day to explore St Ives – if you need to store your bags, there’s a left luggage facility available at the Travel Centre next to St Ives train station.

Views from the scenic St Ives Bay Line train route in Cornwall, south-west England

St Ives’ clear light has made it a favourite with artists, and it’s the home of the Cornish outpost of the Tate Gallery as well as the Barbara Hepworth sculpture museum, and there are plenty of artists’ studios and galleries where you can pick up an artwork of your own.

Shop the independent shops on Fore Street, soak up the sun on one of St Ives’ golden beaches, or take a hike along the South West Coast Path, following the steep, rocky cliff path towards the village of Zennor (6.5 miles/3-4 hours one way).

Where to stay in St Ives: The Pedn-Olva * hotel is perched on a cliff on the edge of Porthminster Beach, with panoramic views across St Ives Harbour. Its 30 en-suite bedrooms come with coastal-inspired décor, sea views and some have private balconies, and there’s also a sunny terrace, restaurant and heated outdoor pool.

Read more: A weekend in St Ives: 2-day St Ives itinerary

St Ives harbour

Day 2: St Ives > Falmouth

Next morning, catch the 09.02 train from St Ives for the 1.5-hour journey to Falmouth Town, changing at St Erth and Truro and arriving at 10.35. The port town of Falmouth has a long seafaring history and the sea is still a big part of local life, with sailing contests and sea-themed events, including the International Sea Shanty and Oyster Festivals.

Visit Pendennis Castle, which along with nearby St Mawes is one of two twin Tudor castles built by Henry VIII to protect the bay from invaders. Find out more about Falmouth’s maritime history at the National Maritime Museum in the dockside. Or take a boat trip along the Fal River or across the bay to St Mawes and the Roseland Peninsula.

Pendennis Castle in Falmouth, Cornwall

Take a walk along the seafront to one of Falmouth’s beaches – Gyllyngvase and Swanpool beaches are both just a short walk away from the town centre and are connected by the coast path. Both have beach cafés where you can stop for an ice cream.

With a big student population, it’s no surprise Falmouth has a good selection of pubs. Head to quirky bookshop-meets-bar Beerwolf Books for real ale and board games, or the harbourside Chain Locker in one of the oldest buildings in Falmouth.

Where to stay in Falmouth:  Above the Star and Garter * gastropub are three serviced apartments. Each has views across Falmouth Harbour, an open plan kitchen/lounge and one or two bedrooms – the attic Crow’s Nest also has a log-burner. You’re provided with a welcome pack of local produce, and have the bar and restaurant just downstairs.

Read more: A weekend in Falmouth: 2-day Falmouth itinerary

Swanpool Beach in Falmouth, Cornwall

Day 3: Falmouth > Eden Project

Next travel east towards the Eden Project – you can’t get all the way there by train so have to catch a bus for the last part of the journey. First take the 09.18 train from Falmouth Town, changing at Truro onto the 09.53 to St Austell, which arrives at 10.08. Then catch a no 101 bus, which takes 30 minutes from St Austell bus station to the Eden Project.

The 35-acre Eden Project was a china clay quarry before being planted with 3000 species of plants and trees by an ecological charity. The site is dominated by the world’s largest greenhouses – two giant biomes recreating the climate and vegetation of the rainforest and the Mediterranean (a great place to hide out if the weather’s misbehaving).

Biomes at the Eden Project in St Austell, Cornwall

Get up in the treetops on the rainforest canopy walkway, explore gardens dotted with giant sculptures, see concerts in summer and ice skate on an indoor rink in winter. The Eden Project is also home to England’s longest and fastest zip wire, which runs over the top of the biomes at 60mph, as well as an aerial trekking course and giant swing.

Where to stay at the Eden Project: The YHA Eden Project * has compact en-suite ‘Snoozebox’ rooms made from recycled shipping containers right on site, sleeping one–four people. Or Ivy House * in St Austell is a boutique bed and breakfast in a traditional Cornish manor house with three bedrooms, colourful gardens and locally sourced breakfasts.

Rainforest canopy walkway at the Eden Project in Cornwall

Day 4: St Austell > Newquay

The following day, head back to St Austell to catch the 09.46 train to the surf town of Newquay. The journey takes just over an hour, with a change at Par, and arrives into Newquay at 11.04. The stretch from Par to Newquay is known as the Atlantic Coast Line and travels across the Luxulyan Valley and Goss Moor Nature Reserve.

Newquay is surrounded by 11 beaches. Closest to town are Tolcarne, Harbour, Towan and Great Western, and you’ll also find the famous surf beaches of Fistral Beach, Lusty Glaze and Watergate Bay within walking distance. Watch the surfers in action, give it a go with a surf lesson, or try other watersports like paddleboarding or wakeboarding.

Towan Beach in Newquay in Cornwall

Head to Newquay Harbour to watch the fishing boats come in with a Cornish pasty (just watch out for seagulls). Or head underwater at the Blue Reef Aquarium with a mix of local and tropical fish species, talks and feeding sessions. Newquay’s also known for its nightlife, with busy bars and clubs – and more than a few stag and hen dos – in summer.

Where to stay in Newquay: The grand Victorian Headland Hotel * occupies a prime position on a clifftop overlooking Fistral Beach (as seen in the film of Roald Dahl’s The Witches ). It has a mix of rooms and cottages, all individually designed and some with sea views, as well as a luxurious spa, indoor and outdoor pools, and two restaurants.

Boats in the harbour in Newquay

Day 5: Newquay > Looe

Then leave the Atlantic Coast behind and travel south to Looe. The journey takes around 3 hours, departing Newquay at 09.15 and arriving into Looe at 12.06, with changes at Par and Liskeard. The final stretch of the trip is along the scenic Looe Valley Line, which runs from Liskeard to Looe past woodland and an estuary full of birdlife at low tide.

The pretty fishing port of Looe is split into two separate towns – East and West Looe – connected by a bridge across the river. Go for a paddle on sandy East Looe Beach, follow the South West Coast Path along the headland on a 5-mile coastal walk to Polperro, or take a boat trip to Looe Island, a marine nature reserve with medieval ruined chapel.

East and West Looe in Cornwall

Learn about Looe’s fishing industry at the Old Sardine Factory heritage centre, and try the day’s catch at one of the town’s restaurants. Taste local wine with a tour and tasting at Looe Valley Vineyard just outside town. And you can’t visit Cornwall without trying a traditional Cornish pasty – Sarah’s Pasty Shop in East Looe has won awards for theirs.

Where to stay in Looe: Schooner Point Guest House * is a bed and breakfast on the hillside in West Looe, with views along the estuary. There are four en-suite bedrooms, with refillable toiletries to reduce plastic waste, and a full Cornish breakfast is included.

Cornish pasties

Day 6: Looe > Plymouth

Finish your Cornwall by train trip by catching the 10.08 train from Looe, changing at Liskeard then crossing the county border into Devon as you arrive in Plymouth at 11.07. Plymouth is one of the UK’s biggest and most important Naval bases.

This is where the Pilgrim Fathers set sail for America and where the Spanish Armada was beaten – though according to legend, Sir Francis Drake refused to set sail until he’d finished the game of bowls he was playing on Plymouth Hoe.

Walk around the waterfront park at Plymouth Hoe, where you can see Drake’s statue, the Armada Monument and Naval War Memorial. Climb the 93 steps to the top of Smeaton’s Tower lighthouse for views across Plymouth Sound, or visit the 17th-century Royal Citadel fortress – it’s still used by the military base so you need to take a guided tour .

Smeaton's Tower lighthouse in Plymouth

Head back in time to Plymouth’s historic Barbican area with its cobbled streets and Elizabethan warehouses converted into museums, galleries and boutiques.

It’s also home to the Plymouth Gin Distillery, England’s oldest operating gin distillery where you can take a tour. Then finish the day in Royal William Yard, a former victualling yard which supplied food and drink to navy vessels and is now full of bars and restaurants.

Where to stay in Plymouth: Residence One * is at the heart of Royal William Yard, surrounded by places to eat and drink. The building originally housed Royal Navy officers, but has been converted into 14 boutique bedrooms – run by Bistrot Pierre across the green – with original Georgian features and a few nautical-themed touches.

Royal William Yard in Plymouth

Day 7: Plymouth

Spend your last morning seeing more of Plymouth. The National Marine Aquarium is the UK’s largest aquarium, with over 400 different marine species, from the coasts of Devon and Cornwall to the Pacific. Follow the journey of the Pilgrims from Plymouth to the New World at the Mayflower Museum. Or take a boat trip around Plymouth Sound.

Then if you’re flying back home, the nearest airport is in Exeter, around an hour from Plymouth by train. From Exeter St Davids station you can catch the 56 bus to Exeter Airport, which runs every half hour and takes 35 minutes. Or if you’re travelling back to London, direct trains from Plymouth to London Paddington take 3 hours 10 minutes.

Exeter cathedral in Devon

If you have more time, you can carry on east into Devon to explore seaside resorts like Paington, Torquay, Dawlish and Exmouth. And Devon has its own scenic train routes too.

The Riviera Line from Paington to Exeter is one of England’s most famous railway lines, running through cliff tunnels and right along the seafront. The Avocet Line follows the Exe Estuary from Exeter to the coast at Exmouth. Or the Tarka Line heads north from Exeter to Barnstaple through the tranquil countryside of the Yeo and Taw river valleys.

Colourful beach huts in Paignton, Devon

How much does it cost?

When you’re planning a Cornish rail trip, you can either book individual tickets or get a railpass, which can be a better deal if you’re under 28/over 60, want more flexibility or are booking late. Here’s how the prices break down for the two different options on this route.

Individual tickets

Ticket prices depend on how early you book and if you’re booking a specific train or want to be flexible. There are three main fare categories: Advance, Off-Peak or Anytime. Advance are cheapest and can be booked 8–12 weeks in advance, but are non-transferable so you’re tied to a specific train. Off-Peak services are valid on any train outside weekday peak hours. And Anytime are the most expensive but can be bought on the day and used on any train.

Coastal walk in Newquay, Cornwall

Using the cheapest Advance fares, the cost of trains on this route starts at £83 per person:

  • London > St Ives: from £43
  • St Ives > Falmouth: from £9.50
  • Falmouth > St Austell: from £8.20
  • St Austell > Newquay: from £6.10
  • Newquay > Looe: from £8.80
  • Looe > Plymouth: from £7.70

For the Night Riviera Sleeper , the price includes a seat (which is booked like a normal train ticket). Then if you want to upgrade from a seat to a cabin you pay a supplement, which starts at £42.50 for a single-berth room or £32 per person for a twin-berth room.

You can also save a third on all rail fares with a Railcard *. These cost £30 with different versions for 16–25s, 25–30s, Seniors and Disabled People. You can also get a Two Together railcard for two named adults travelling together, or a Friends and Family Railcard for up to four adults and four children. Both UK and overseas residents are eligible.

Cornish houses in St Ives

The railpass option

There are various rail passes available, and which you’re eligible for depends on where you live. If you live outside the UK, you can can get a InterRail / Eurail pass (InterRail is for European residents and Eurail is for non-European residents) or BritRail pass. They work in a similar way and cover either a set time period or a certain number of travel days.

For the Cornwall by train itinerary, the best InterRail/Eurail option is the One Country Great Britain pass for 5 travel days within 1 month (£220 adults, £191 youths aged 12–27 or £198 seniors over 60). Or the best BritRail option is the South West Pass for 8 Consecutive Days (£198 adults, £158 youths aged 16–25, £168 seniors over 60).

Falmouth Harbour in Cornwall

Passholders are recommended to make seat reservations, but it’s only compulsory if you’re travelling on the Night Riviera Sleeper . You can reserve a seat or sleeper cabin online via the GWR website or at any UK train station (though cabins do sell out fast). If you have a railpass it’s free to reserve a seat but you do need to pay a supplement for a cabin.

Rover tickets are also available, which give you unlimited train travel in a certain region, and are available to both UK and overseas residents. The best option for this itinerary is National Rail’s Freedom of Devon and Cornwall Rover (8 in 15 Days) .

It costs £97.50 for adults, £48.75 for children aged 5–15 and there are discounts for Railcard holders. The Night Riviera Sleeper isn’t included so must be booked separately.

Porthminster Beach in St Ives on a Cornwall by train itinerary

How to book

There are a variety of websites where you can book UK train journeys, but some charge a booking fee. To avoid fees you can book with Transport for Wales * (excluding the Night Riviera Sleeper which must be booked directly through GWR ) and either use a mobile ticket on your phone or collect them from a ticket machine or a counter at the station.

Or if you have an international credit card you can book with The Trainline for a small fee.

Don’t want to do it yourself? You can also book a custom trip based on this Cornwall by train itinerary through our partners Byway ,* the flight-free holiday platform, which includes transport and accommodation.

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Coastal Cornwall by train: A one-week rail itinerary of sandy beaches, fishing villages and tropical gardens, from St Ives to Falmouth, the Eden Project, Newquay, Looe and Plymouth along scenic train routes through the Cornish coast and countryside | Cornwall by train | Cornwall rail trip | Visit Cornwall | Cornwall itinerary

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train journeys cornwall

A guide to the Night Riviera Sleeper train from London to Cornwall

DOUGLAS HAY

Friday 23rd of July 2021

My wife and I are intending to travel to England from Australia some time next year, if practical. Please advise whether on the train trips elderly ( 82 / 73) disabled persons are catered for both being in wheel chairs? Other than being disabled (inability to walk) both couples are quite well. Please advise by return email. Thank you. Douglas Hay

Lucy Dodsworth

Wednesday 28th of July 2021

Hi Douglas, trains in the UK are accessible to wheelchairs – you can request assistance via and app now to make sure that there is ramp access etc (see https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/plan-assistance.aspx), ideally booked in advance especially in smaller stations. There's also a Disabled Railcard available which saves 1/3 of fares for £30.

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Travel to Cornwall by Train

Great Western Railway (GWR) operate high speed train services frequently from London Paddington station including the Night Riviera Sleeper service to Penzance. There are also direct trains daily from Bristol and beyond using Cross-Country.

Once in Cornwall, there's a great rail network for getting around the county, perfect for those car-free breaks. Explore the corners of Cornwall from St Ives to Looe, sit back and enjoy the scenery on the Tamar Valley Line or head to the beach at Newquay or Falmouth.

train journeys cornwall

1. So many ways to save

When you travel by train you could save over 50% just by booking in advance.

Travel off-peak.

You can save a 1/3 with a railcard . A selection of railcards are available whether you are between 16 and 30 years of age (16 – 25, 26 – 30 Railcards), travelling with family and/or friends (Family and Friends Railcard), travelling in a pair (Two Together Railcard) or over 65 (Senior Railcard) and that’s not all of them.

If you are travelling with children - Children aged five to fifteen inclusive get a 50% discount on most tickets. In addition, children under five can travel free with a fare paying customer.

With Groupsave , if you are travelling in a group of between 3 and 9 adults, you can get a 1/3 off Standard Off-Peak tickets when travelling together on Great Western Railway.

Whether you need to travel when it’s busy or you prefer to go when it’s quieter, our fixed-price Family Ticket offers great savings for up to 2 adults and 4 children.* It’s available on hundreds of GWR journeys across our network

2. Night Riviera Sleeper

Travel overnight on the Night Riviera Sleeper from London Paddington to Penzance, Truro or one of many stations in Cornwall and wake up in the tranquil county away from the hustle and bustle.

The Night Riviera Sleeper is a unique experience. It’s a hotel on wheels so if you have lots to squeeze in while in Cornwall, this is the ideal transport solution.

Purchase a cabin ‘add on’ alongside your train ticket and enjoy your own bed.

train journeys cornwall

3. Environment

Taking the train already helps tackle climate change – it cuts carbon emissions by two thirds compared to travelling by car. A single car removes up to 500 cars off the roads. *

4. Go further with Ride Cornwall

A Ride Cornwall ticket allows unlimited off-peak travel for one day throughout Cornwall on all rail, and most buses, within Cornwall for just £18 adult, £9 child.

GWR-Night-Riviera-Sleeper-Penzance-14042021-0443-4[99] (1)-min.jpg

5. Trains across Cornwall

Did you know that St Ives, Falmouth, Newquay and Looe are all accessible by train? Take a look at the GWR network map and explore all the great places you can visit.

train journeys cornwall

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Proud of its identity, Cornwall boasts some of Britain's finest gardens, plus scenic branch lines revealing sandy beaches, rocky coves and smugglers' havens, plus a striking cathedral city in Truro.

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Experience a delightful Cornish rail holiday as we meander along scenic branch lines, capturing the cream of the coastal and countryside views, to visit charming ports and seaside resorts, an award-winning vineyard, and the world-renowned Eden Project.

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Experience the character and charm of the Isles of Scilly on our exciting new tour. Journey along the English Riviera, discover Cornwall's cathedral city of Truro, admire the iconic Cornish coastline, and stay in the beautiful Star Castle Hotel. Enjoy commanding views of the archipelago, immerse yourself into island life, and marvel at the natural beauty of these isles plus partake in a vineyard tour and tasting, and sample some of the best seafood caught on the hotel's very own fishing boat.

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Travel coast to coast from Land's End to John O'Groats, including many of Britain's great scenic rail journeys along the way. Explore England, Scotland & Wales on a one off, once in a lifetime, grand rail tour of mainland Britain!

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Experience a joyful Cornish holiday visiting some of the most enchanting gardens in Cornwall from great grandeur to hidden sanctuaries. Discover the Lost Gardens of Heligan, relax in the tranquillity of Pinetum Gardens, learn the history and secrets of Pencarrow House, and visit the world-renowned Eden Project plus enjoy a nostalgic steam journey.

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Experience a delightful Cornish rail holiday as we meander along scenic branch lines, capturing the cream of the coastal and countryside views, visiting charming ports, seaside resorts, an award-winning vineyard, and the world-renowned Eden Project plus time to explore Padstow, Looe, Penzance & St. Ives.

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Introduction, train vs driving, with numerous scenic highlights, booking tickets:, exploring from penzance, day 1 - to st ives, day 2 - to looe, day 3 - to falmouth, day 4 - to padstow, and buses still go to places never served by trains, other british rail holiday ideas:, please support showmethejourney.

Seeing Cornwall by train

Seeing Cornwall By Train

How to explore stunning Cornwall by train; including trips to beautiful Falmouth, Looe, Padstow and St Ives

Simon Harper

Exploring England’s most south-western county, Cornwall , without a car, but with a dog, ultimately proved to be a wonderful holiday, despite being an idea which came close to being dismissed at the early planning stage .

Because in common with most of Britain’s extremities farthest from London, Cornwall suffered particularly harsh cuts when the UK railway network was pruned in the 1960s.

Meaning that only four branch lines to the Cornish coast remain in service today , but with a plan to take a five night break in lovely Penzance, there would be time enough to tick them off; and we wouldn't need to choose where to go, because the railway map had decided that for us.

So you can now use this guide to follow in ShowMeTheJourney's footsteps and explore this Outstanding Area Of Natural Beauty by train.

train journeys cornwall

The decision making was also influenced by friends who regularly drive to Cornwall, who all individually said, “oh, you’ve got to have a car”, with a common justification being that roads provide the only access to virtually all of the charming Cornish coves and fishing villages that are magnets for visitors.

The friends then went on to say variations along a theme of, “you can spend an hour or more looking for a parking space and then settle on having to walk miles, plus it’s easy to get stuck in traffic and we always drive down to Cornwall overnight, because trying to get there during the day is a nightmare”.

Which didn’t exactly conjure up visions of a stress-free means of spending much needed relaxing time away, so it was going to be Cornwall by train, or not at all.

A fabulous journey there by train

train journeys cornwall

What tipped the balance was the desire to take the train to Cornwall, because the journey there in itself was going to be so wonderful, that it didn’t matter that we wouldn’t see every corner of the county on arrival.

This knowledge that the journey would be fantastic didn’t arise from the current promotional efforts of GWR, the current operator of the trains from London to Cornwall. Its TV and radio campaigns have been curiously non-specific regarding the destinations it can transport you to and how it will take you there. Instead this desire to take the train to Cornwall arose from the enticements provided by the original Great Western Railway to its prospective travellers more than 80 years ago.

Spend as much time as ShowMeTheJourney does escaping modern life, by visiting Britain’s preserved steam railways and the GWR posters produced in the 1930s, selling the notion that going to Cornwall by train will send one into raptures, are impossible to avoid and equally as impossible to resist! The railway line operated by the Great Western since 1859, the route of the legendary Cornish Riviera Express , still exists, and yes this mythical Riviera was dreamed up by the railway company, but it's still a fantastically romantic idea!

And the trains which head direct to Cornwall from Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds and from as far north as Scotland, also have to travel along the same beautiful railway once they have passed Taunton.

train journeys cornwall

Though many of the most spectacular moments of the train journey to England’s south-western tip occur as the train passes through Devon.

The expectation is that that the glorious passage of the railway line right by the Devonian shore between Exeter and Newton Abbot will be a prelude of sea views to come. However, once the train has reached Cornwall, the Cornish Main Line manages to avoid going anywhere near the coast for most of its length.

Though despite offering only occasional glimpses of the sea, this can't help being a journey which showcases the county's beauty.

The ​​​​​​highlights shown in the image above are - from top left:

  • The dramatic arrival into Cornwall as the train crosses the majestic Royal Albert Bridge - best seen on the left when heading west. ~

Penzance was selected as the holiday location partially because of its fulfilment of a romantic notion that it would be nice to travel to the end of the line. There are also direct trains to Penzance operated by CrossCountry which live up to their name by taking a route from Edinburgh , which calls at other cities including Newcastle, York, Leeds, Sheffield and Birmingham.

Though a big tick in the box was that the charming Hotel Penzance offered dog-friendly accommodation within a 10 min walk of a station. Particularly as tracking down the combination of;

  • good for the dog
  • ideal for us
  • and easy distance to the station can be an epic task. Though a word of warning for those with compromised mobility, is that the road up to the hotel, is short, but exceptionally steep.

As for where to go from Penzance, the railway map decided this for us, there would be day trips to Falmouth, Looe and St. Ives, three of the four towns accessed by the branch lines off of the mainline. A plan which paid dividends as the journeys along the branch lines proved to be as delightful as the destinations.

Another reason for choosing Penzance as the base location for the exploration of Cornwall was its proximity to St Ives . As it is s only a 35 minute journey from Penzance to St Ives with a simple as be connection at St Erth station, we booked tickets at the station just before boarding.

Visiting this seaside gem was at the top of the must-do list and it did not disappoint, but what proved to be a wonderful surprise was the journey along the St Ives Bay Line .

In ShowMeTheJourney’s humble opinion a coastal train ride is made more memorable if the railway is located back from the shore, so that more than the sea can be seen from the train window.

train journeys cornwall

By this criteria the views of the bays, beaches and headlands on the short, but very sweet journey from St Erth, make this ride my top of the charts pick for a British coastal train journey; a glorious 10 minutes that by itself pretty much justifies the efforts in reaching Cornwall. Though the beautiful day showcased the vistas at their best, take a seat on the right-hand side when boarding in St Erth, a one station hop from Penzance.

Taking advantage of the weather, a spontaneous and rather smart decision was taken to make the most of the sea views, by walking the footpath by the railway, back to Carbis Bay station.

We then boarded the train there back to Penzance with the connection at St Erth.

train journeys cornwall

Looe is some distance from Penzance, but depart by the 10:50 train after a leisurely breakfast and you’ll be arriving at this seaside town's utterly delightful station just after 13:00.

And because of the length of this journey a Cornwall Ranger ticket , which can be purchased just before boarding at the Penzance station ticket office, was a money saver

train journeys cornwall

There will be a simple connection between trains to negotiate at Liskeard, with some contingency time available should the train from Penzance be delayed. The lovely Looe Valley Line from the junction is operated as a community partnership railway, where local volunteers support the running of the trains.

Evidently a sensible decision has been taken to give the stations at each end of the line a nostalgic aura, they resemble those found on heritage railway, but despite a grey day, the entire experience worked its magic.

train journeys cornwall

To be honest Falmouth was added to the itinerary because it has retained its station and as it can be reached by train in under 90 minutes by train from Penzance, we thought ‘why not?’ And Off Peak return tickets weren't any more expensive when purchased last minute at the station.

ShowMeTheJourney has never seen the branch line to Falmouth from Truro, now known as the Maritime Line , on a list of scenic railway journeys, but the sweeping views down to the coast are rather fabulous.

And Falmouth proved to be utterly beguiling on a sunny day, its charming main shopping street and lovely beach ticked the boxes. And for those travelling without a pooch, the town is also something of a magnet for art lovers with its charming gallery .

train journeys cornwall

A planned day trip that didn’t happen because the weather intervened, hence the lack of images, was a trip to Padstow .

The ambitious, but feasible plan, was to travel there by initially taking the train from Penzance to Bodmin Parkway station, in order to connect for a journey by steam train on the Bodmin and Wenford Railway . Bus route/line 11A links provides the final stage of the journey as it links central Bodmin to Padstow. This bus line also calls at Bodmin Parkway station, so when heading to Padstow you could skip the journey on the steam train - and on the return trip you can take the bus direct to Bodmin Parkway from Padstow.

But now this adventure can be saved for the inevitable return to Cornwall by train. Particularly as a Ride Cornwall ticket includes all the journeys on this day trip, except for the steam train.

train journeys cornwall

Despite not having a car, we also didn’t miss out on visiting some charming fishing villages, as both Mousehole and Porthleven are within a 45 min ride from Penzance on buses which depart at least hourly.

Exploring Scotland with a Spirit of Scotland pass

This second version of ShowMeTheJourney is exciting and new, so we are genuinely thrilled that you are here and reading this, but we also need your help. We’re striving not to let anything get in the way of providing the most useful service possible, hence a facility has been set up with DonorBox which can be used to support the running costs and make improvements.

Instead of advertising or paywalls, your financial support will make a positive difference to delivering an enhanced service, as there’s a lot of ideas which we want to make happen.

So if you have found the info provided here to be useful, please go here to say thank you .

train journeys cornwall

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I wanted to share my passion for train travel and explain how anyone can take the fantastic journeys I have taken.

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This second version of ShowMeTheJourney is exciting and new, so we are genuinely thrilled that you are here and reading this, but we also need your help.

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St Ives Bay Line: Breathtaking views from Britain's most scenic railway

It is one of the most spectacular experiences in Cornwall, and only costs £4 for the whole day

  • 05:00, 28 APR 2024

train journeys cornwall

One of the most scenic railway lines in Britain is on track for a busy season this year. Despite being just over four miles long, the St Ives Bay Line - once described as 'the most beautiful branch line in Britain' - culminates at one of the busiest train stations in Cornwall.

St Ives Railway Station recorded 720,062 entries and exits between April 2022 and March 2023, the most journeys from any station in Cornwall with the exception of Truro. The majority of these train rides are taken during the holiday season, when visitors opt to leave their cars at the Park & Ride in St Erth, and enjoy 10 minutes of breathtaking views as they trundle along the coastal tracks to St Ives.

This short, but spectacular railway line was opened on June 1, 1877, becoming the last broad gauge passenger railway route to be built in Britain. By 1892, it had converted to standard gauge, and was used for transporting fish that had been landed in St Ives, as well as Victorian tourists who had landed in St Erth.

Though popular in the early twentieth century, passenger numbers on the St Ives Bay Line began to fall in the '50s and '60s as visitors increasingly arrived by car. The line was proposed for closure, but reprieved by the then Minister of Transport, Barbara Castle, as well as a plan to create a large car park at Lelant Saltings, which would open as the St Ives Park & Ride in 1978.

Read more: Forgotten Victorian swimming pool hidden in the woods

With the Park & Ride now relocated to St Erth Station, today, passengers can enjoy one of the most scenic train rides in Britain as many times as they want in one day for just £4. Taking in the birdwatching beauty spot of Hayle Estuary Nature Reserve, the beautiful expanse of Porth Kidney Sands, the subtropical colours of Carbis Bay and the iconic arrival at the final destination, this short railway journey is a truly breathtaking experience - unlike trying to find a parking space in St Ives.

There are 18 pictures in this photo story - click on the 'Next' button at the bottom of the page to see them all.

Views from the St Ives Bay Line between St Erth and St Ives, which has been described as the most beautiful branch line in Britain.

For visitors to St Ives, the journey begins at St Erth Station. Before the branch line opened in 1877, St Erth Station was called St Ives Road, because passengers would continue their journey to St Ives by road.

Views from the St Ives Bay Line between St Erth and St Ives, which has been described as the most beautiful branch line in Britain.

After St Erth, there are two small stations next to Hayle Estuary. The first, Lelant Saltings, became the St Ives Park & Ride station in 1978, and recorded around 140,000 passenger journeys a year before it was relocated in 2019. Now, as a request stop, it is lucky to see more than 500 a year, with many more passengers using the next stop at Lelant Station, depiste the lack of parking.

Views from the St Ives Bay Line between St Erth and St Ives, which has been described as the most beautiful branch line in Britain.

The train journey continues over the sand dunes west of Hayle rivermouth, taking in views of the three-mile beach stretching to Godrevy Lighthouse.

Views from the St Ives Bay Line between St Erth and St Ives, which has been described as the most beautiful branch line in Britain.

The coastal footpath follows the trainline as it sweeps along beside the sea.

Views from the St Ives Bay Line between St Erth and St Ives, which has been described as the most beautiful branch line in Britain.

The trains can be very busy during the summer holidays, with seats on the coastal side being highly sought after.

Views from the St Ives Bay Line between St Erth and St Ives, which has been described as the most beautiful branch line in Britain.

St Ives author Cyril Noall once described the short railway line as the 'most beautiful branch line in Britain.'

Views from the St Ives Bay Line between St Erth and St Ives, which has been described as the most beautiful branch line in Britain.

More recently, the St Ives Bay Line has ranked highly in lists of the most scenic railway journeys in Britain.

Views from the St Ives Bay Line between St Erth and St Ives, which has been described as the most beautiful branch line in Britain.

As the train sweeps round to Hawkes Point, passengers get their first glimpse of St Ives.

Views from the St Ives Bay Line between St Erth and St Ives, which has been described as the most beautiful branch line in Britain.

The train journey from St Erth to St Ives only takes around 10 minutes, but takes in a succession of unmissable views.

Views from the St Ives Bay Line between St Erth and St Ives, which has been described as the most beautiful branch line in Britain.

As the train trundles past the end of Porth Kidney Sands, it sounds its horn to warn anyone thinking of using the pedestrian crossing at Hawkes Point.

Views from the St Ives Bay Line between St Erth and St Ives, which has been described as the most beautiful branch line in Britain.

There are not many train journeys in Britain that can match views out of the window like this.

Views from the St Ives Bay Line between St Erth and St Ives, which has been described as the most beautiful branch line in Britain.

Rounding the headland into Carbis Bay, the golden sand stretches out before the train.

Views from the St Ives Bay Line between St Erth and St Ives, which has been described as the most beautiful branch line in Britain.

The view from the train is worthy of a postcard.

Views from the St Ives Bay Line between St Erth and St Ives, which has been described as the most beautiful branch line in Britain.

As popular as the St Ives Bay Line is, passenger numbers were effected in 2020 and 2021 by the Covid pandemic and the G7 Summit at Carbis Bay.

Views from the St Ives Bay Line between St Erth and St Ives, which has been described as the most beautiful branch line in Britain.

Built from local granite, the viaduct at Carbis Bay is around 80ft high, with four arches, each spanning 40ft across.

Views from the St Ives Bay Line between St Erth and St Ives, which has been described as the most beautiful branch line in Britain.

Leaving Carbis Bay, the train has one last headland to round before arriving into St Ives.

Views from the St Ives Bay Line between St Erth and St Ives, which has been described as the most beautiful branch line in Britain.

The breathtaking view of St Ives harbour from the train as it approaches its final destination.

Views from the St Ives Bay Line between St Erth and St Ives, which has been described as the most beautiful branch line in Britain.

It is no wonder that so many people rate the St Ives Bay Line as the most scenic railway journey in Britain.

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train journeys cornwall

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(Our first public operating day will be Sunday 26th May)

Fares from 2023 have been held for this year until our current coal stocks are exhausted; please see our " Timetable and Fares " page.

Our enchanting 2½ mile narrow gauge railway offers train rides through the unspoilt countryside of the Kensey Valley in Cornwall.  All trains are hauled by lovingly restored Victorian Steam Locomotives.

You can spend the whole day at Launceston and the Steam Railway – At  Launceston Station , you can enjoy a tasty lunch or a luxury cream tea in our  Café , browse the fascinating exhibits in our  Museum , take home a souvenir of your visit from our well-stocked  Gift & Book Shop , and explore the historic Cornish town of Launceston with its famous castle.

From Launceston Station, you can use the train to travel to  Newmills Station  where you can go for a walk along our riverside track, take a walk in the countryside or head towards the village of Tregadillett.

PLEASE NOTE - The park at Newmills Station is not affiliated with us; the land is privately owned with no public access.

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Onboard the UK’s sleeper train that travels to some of the country’s best beach spots

  • Ryan Gray , Travel Reporter
  • Published : 15:01, 27 Apr 2024
  • Updated : 12:03, 28 Apr 2024
  • Published : Invalid Date,

CORNWALL is one of the UK's best-loved holiday destinations, but its location at the tip of the south west sometimes puts people off.

For most holidaymakers, getting to the county requires a lengthy car journey, or even a domestic flight.

The train runs from London to some of the UK's best beaches

However, there is another method that transports people there over night, getting them to its warm weather and sandy beaches, with minimal effort.

Six days a week, a sleeper train with private cabins takes passengers direct from London Paddington to Cornwall.

The service is operated by Great Western Railway (GWR) and is known as the Night Riviera service.

En route, the train calls in at Plymouth, Lostwithiel Truro, St Erth and finally at Penzance , among several other stops.

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Vintage UK train that was once the world's smallest - with new wine service

It's among the country's favourite train journeys and is the most efficient way to make the journey from London across ground.

It also opens the rest of Europe up to people from Devon and Cornwall, according to Train expert the Man in Seat 61 .

On his blog, he said: "This excellent sleeper train is a travelling hotel, with private single or twin sleeper compartments and lounge car. 

"It's the most time-effective way from London to Cornwall , making short breaks possible without a 6-hour drive or a domestic flight.

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"If you live in Devon or Cornwall, it makes trips to central London or even Paris easy."

The trains were also refurbished back in 2018, making it an even more luxurious way to travel.

Despite that, prices are still fairly affordable, according to the Trainline .

They say that prices range from £25.50 to £135 depending on your accommodation preferences, journey and when you book.

Guests can book a seat on board the train, or for extra comfort, a private cabin .

All cabin guests have access to both lounges and showers at Paddington , Penzance, and Truro.

Sun Travel's favourite train journeys in the world

train journeys cornwall

Sun Travel's journalists have taken their fare share of train journeys on their travels and here they share their most memorable rail experiences.

Davos to Geneva, Switzerland

"After a ski holiday in Davos, I took the scenic train back to Geneva Airport. The snow-covered mountains and tiny alpine villages that we passed were so beautiful that it felt like a moving picture was playing beyond the glass." - Caroline McGuire

Tokyo to Kyoto by Shinkansen

"Nothing quite beats the Shinkansen bullet train, one of the fastest in the world. It hardly feels like you're whizzing along at speed until you look outside and see the trees a green blur. Make sure to book seat D or E too - as you'll have the best view of Mount Fuji along the way." Kara Godfrey

London to Paris by Eurostar

"Those who have never travelled on the Eurostar may wonder what’s so special about a seemingly ordinary train that takes you across the channel. You won’t have to waste a moment and can tick off all the top attractions from the Louvre to the Champs-Élysées which are both less than five kilometres from the Gare du Nord." - Sophie Swietochowski

Glasgow to Fort William by Scotrail

"From mountain landscapes and serene lochs to the wistful moors, I spent my three-hour journey from Glasgow to Fort William gazing out the window. Sit on the left-hand side of the train for the best views overlooking Loch Lomond." - Hope Brotherton

Beijing to Ulaanbatar

"The Trans-Mongolian Express is truly a train journey like no other. It starts amid the chaos of central Beijing before the city's high-rises give way to crumbling ancient villages and eventually the vast vacant plains of Mongolia, via the Gobi desert. The deep orange sunset seen in the middle of the desert is among the best I've witnessed anywhere." - Ryan Gray

They're also given a complimentary light breakfast on board, served in the cabin.

Seats meanwhile, offer a cheaper, no-frills experience in an " airline- style seat ".

The on-board lounge has a bar stocked with "well-known alcoholic drinks, tea, coffee, soft drinks, bar snacks and light bites".

Room service can also be ordered, adding to the hotel experience and adding an extra element to a trip to some of the UK's most impressive natural scenery .

Holiday deals in Penzance

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It's easy to see why the clear blue seas and soft white sands at the beaches make the towns of Cornwall some of the county's most popular holiday hotspots.

The beaches at St Erth are very popular, while other places like Kynance Cove, Perranporth Beach and Porthcurno are just a handful of some of the many places holidaymakers love to visit.

The route from Paddington to Penzance takes just over eight hours to complete in total and runs every day, apart from Saturday.

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Meanwhile, the most beautiful train journey in Europe is in the UK.

And this UK train route also has some amazing views.

The train runs every single night apart from Saturday

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Tamar Valley Line

Plymouth - gunnislake.

Explore the riverside village of Calstock. Great pubs & walks.

train journeys cornwall

Looe Valley Line

Liskeard - looe.

Enjoy great estuary views and Looe’s harbour and beach.

train journeys cornwall

St Ives Bay Line

St Erth (P&R) - St Ives

One of Britain's most scenic railways. Amazing views.

train journeys cornwall

Maritime Line

Truro - falmouth docks.

Visit Falmouth’s harbour, beaches, castles and shops.

train journeys cornwall

Atlantic Coast Line

Par - newquay.

Arrive in the heart of Newquay ready to hit the beach.

Couple exploring Dartmoor

Dartmoor Line

Exeter - Okehampton

Dartmoor adventures right from Okehampton station.

train journeys cornwall

Exeter - Barnstaple

Take in the countryside views and explore North Devon.

train journeys cornwall

Riviera Line

Exeter - Paignton

Travel the famous Devon coast to the English Riviera.

train journeys cornwall

Avocet Line

Exeter st davids - exmouth.

Journey along the Exe Estuary to Topsham and Exmouth.

train journeys cornwall

East Devon Line

Exeter st davids - axminster.

Visit Honiton and Axminster with countryside views.

Great Scenic Railways

  • Tamar Valley Line Plymouth – Gunnislake
  • Looe Valley Line Looe – Liskeard
  • St Ives Bay Line St Erth – St Ives
  • Maritime Line Truro – Falmouth
  • Atlantic Coast Line Par – Newquay
  • Dartmoor Line Exeter – Okehampton
  • Tarka Line Exeter – Barnstaple
  • Riviera Line Exeter – Paignton
  • Avocet Line Exeter – Exmouth
  • East Devon Line Exeter – Axminster
  • Explore Cornwall by train Glorious beaches, estuaries, wooded valleys – soak up the views on your way to beloved coastal destinations.
  • Explore Devon by train From rolling countryside to seaside views, Devon’s branch lines offer a real taste of the West Country.

Walks from the railway

Rail ale trails, beaches by train.

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It's all about the Journey

Great Scenic Railways

Strike action: Wed 8 May – see full info

Some of Britain's most scenic railways

Explore Devon and Cornwall by train and enjoy stunning coastal views, rolling green countryside, wooded valleys and river crossings.

Visit picturesque villages, fabulous beaches, historic market towns and bustling cities. Forget the hassles of taking the car and concentrate on exploring to your heart’s content.

Devon and Cornwall are famed for their beaches. You can reach some of the best of them by train. Take your pick with our at-a-glance guide:

Enjoy a fine pub? Try our seven Rail Ale Trails. Sample real ales and great food along your chosen line. You can even win a T-shirt!

Foodie Guides

Read our top tips for scrumptious cafes, delis and purveyors of top quality local produce - all located near branch line stations.

train journeys cornwall

Enjoy the views of the lush Tamar Valley. Explore gems like the riverside village of Calstock with its great pubs and walks.

GWR train on Looe Valley Line at high tide

Weave alongside the estuary, then visit Looe’s harbour, beach and coastal walks.

GWR train on St Ives Bay Line

St Erth Park & Ride - St Ives

One of Britain's most scenic railways, with amazing views of the golden sands.

GWR train on the Maritime Line between Truro and Falmouth

Visit Falmouth’s harbour, beaches, castles and National Maritime Museum.

Newquay beach scene

Arrive in the heart of Newquay and hit the beach within just 5 minutes' walk.

Belstone Tor

Exeter Central - Okehampton

Explore Dartmoor's peaks, woodlands and waterfalls. Or cycle the Granite Way to Lydford - with top pubs en route.

Couple at Umberleigh

Exeter Central - Barnstaple

Take in the countryside views and discover North Devon and the famous Tarka Trail.

GWR IET at Dawlish on Riviera Line

Exeter Central - Paignton

Enjoy glorious sea views along the Devon coast, then explore the English Riviera.

Avocet Line between Exeter and Exmouth - photo by Mark Lynam

Journey along the Exe Estuary to Topsham and Exmouth. Great walks and views.

East Devon Line from Exeter to Axminster

Visit Honiton and Axminster, with onward bus connections to the Jurassic Coast.

Great Days Out

From short strolls to longer rambles, we’ve got maps and directions aplenty for walks starting or finishing at many of our stations.

Stunning Coastal Walks

You can walk from Looe to the beautiful village of Polperro along the stunning South West Coast Path.

The walk is only 6 miles and you can catch the bus back to Looe from Polperro to make it a circular walk.

Group of people walking down the South West Coast Path into the fishing village of Polperro

Liskeard - - - Causeland - - Looe

Buying tickets.

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Liskeard to Looe

Tickets & train times, scenic walks from the riviera line.

Combine a trip on The Riviera Line with a scenic walk. Get your free booklet of maps and directions for six short walks from Riviera Line stations.  There are also even more walks available online, courtesy of the South West Coast Path team.

From Starcross or Dawlish Warren stations, you can explore the beautiful Exe Estuary by foot, bus or ferry – see map .

train journeys cornwall

Exeter Central - - - - - - Dawlish - Teignmouth - - - Torquay - Paignton

Exeter to paignton, train times and prices.

train journeys cornwall

Soak up the culture

With two World Heritage Sites, two National Parks, ancestral homes, castles and festivals, Devon and Cornwall have a rich cultural heritage.

train journeys cornwall

Great shopping

Whether you like exploring hidden back street gems, or hitting the high street brands, our destinations offer it all.

train journeys cornwall

On your bike

Enjoy estuary views by bike on the glorious Tarka Trail, starting from Barnstaple station. Hire a bike or bring your own.

Train strikes in May 2024: Full list of dates and lines affected

Rail lines are set for disruption in the week following the first May bank holiday as train drivers at 16 rail companies strike on different days.

Monday 29 April 2024 09:17, UK

train journeys cornwall

Train drivers will stage a fresh wave of strikes and overtime bans in May, causing disruption to the rail network.

The strikes are part of a long-running dispute over pay.

Members of Aslef union at 16 rail companies will walk out on different days from 7 to 9 May.

Additionally, all members will refuse to work any overtime from 6 May to 11 May.

Here is a full list of the services affected by strikes and when.

Rail strike dates

Tuesday 7 May

Strikes will affect c2c, Greater Anglia, GTR Great Northern Thameslink, Southeastern, Southern, Gatwick Express and South Western Railway.

Wednesday 8 May

Strikes will affect Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, Great Western Railway and West Midlands Trains.

Thursday 9 May

Strikes will affect LNER, Northern Trains and TransPennine Express.

Overtime ban dates

From Monday 6 May to Saturday 11 May union members will not work overtime.

Overtime bans, an action short of a strike, means some services may not be running or may be reduced as drivers refuse to work their rest days.

People are advised to check before they travel, as some areas may have no service.

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How do strikes and overtime bans affect services?

Strikes tend to mean services on lines where members are participating are extremely affected or cancelled entirely, whereas overtime bans often lead to reduced services.

An underground train pulls into Leicester Square station in central London February 11, 2014. A planned 48-hour strike this week by staff on London&#39;s underground rail network which threatened to bring travel misery for millions has been suspended to allow further talks, unions said on Tuesday. REUTERS/Neil Hall (BRITAIN - Tags: POLITICS TRANSPORT BUSINESS EMPLOYMENT)

Are there strikes on the Tube too?

There have been regular strikes on London Underground too recently, and while there aren't any planned walkouts for drivers, customer service managers are set to walk out on Friday 26 April in a dispute over terms and conditions.

There will also be an overtime ban for the customer service managers on the following days:

Monday 29 April

Tuesday 30 April

Wednesday 1 May

Tuesday 2 May

Wednesday 3 May

Thursday 4 May

Friday 5 May

The Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) says the action by its members is likely to cause Tube stations to close at the last minute, including on the Saturday following the strike (27 April), while TfL has said on its website "some stations may need to close at short notice".

Despite the warning, a TfL spokesperson has said they aren't expecting significant disruption.

This action follows strike action taken by the same workers on 10 April, which the TSSA said had a "real impact" with "many stations shut at short notice".

They say they are "extremely concerned" about TfL's 'Stations Changes' proposals.

"We have made it clear that our union will not accept the continued threats to our members' roles, locations, terms, and conditions to stand unchallenged," a TSSA spokesperson said.

"We will continue to take sustained action until London Underground is prepared to negotiate with us in good faith."

Commenting on the impending strikes, a TfL spokesperson said: "We are disappointed that TSSA is continuing with this strike action following a consultation process.

"While we don't expect this action will cause significant disruption, we urge TSSA to continue to work with us to help find a resolution.

"There are no planned job losses as part of these vital changes which will improve the service we provide to customers at our stations."

How can I stay in the loop?

You can use the National Rail's journey planner to see when trains are running.

Be sure to check it close to when you plan to travel, as it will be updated regularly.

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Install the Sky News app for free

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Why are the strikes still happening?

Aslef rejected a two-year offer of 4% in 2022 and another 4% this year, saying it is way below inflation, and is linked to changes in terms and conditions.

Aslef said train drivers have not had an increase in salary for five years, since their last pay deals expired in 2019.

The union said after its members voted overwhelmingly in February to continue taking industrial action, it asked the train operating companies to hold talks.

General secretary Mick Whelan said the year-old pay offer of 4% and another 4% was "dead in the water".

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Moscow Metro 2019

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Will it be easy to find my way in the Moscow Metro? It is a question many visitors ask themselves before hitting the streets of the Russian capital. As metro is the main means of transport in Moscow – fast, reliable and safe – having some skills in using it will help make your visit more successful and smooth. On top of this, it is the most beautiful metro in the world !

. There are over 220 stations and 15 lines in the Moscow Metro. It is open from 6 am to 1 am. Trains come very frequently: during the rush hour you won't wait for more than 90 seconds! Distances between stations are quite long – 1,5 to 2 or even 3 kilometers. Metro runs inside the city borders only. To get to the airport you will need to take an onground train - Aeroexpress.

RATES AND TICKETS

Paper ticket A fee is fixed and does not depend on how far you go. There are tickets for a number of trips: 1, 2 or 60 trips; or for a number of days: 1, 3 days or a month. Your trips are recorded on a paper ticket. Ifyou buy a ticket for several trips you can share it with your traveling partner passing it from one to the other at the turnstile.

train journeys cornwall

On every station there is cashier and machines (you can switch it to English). Cards and cash are accepted. 1 trip - 55 RUB 2 trips - 110 RUB

Tickets for 60 trips and day passes are available only at the cashier's.

60 rides - 1900 RUB

1 day - 230 RUB 3 days - 438 RUB 30 days - 2170 RUB.

The cheapest way to travel is buying Troyka card . It is a plastic card you can top up for any amount at the machine or at the ticket office. With it every trip costs 38 RUB in the metro and 21 RUB in a bus. You can get the card in any ticket office. Be prepared to leave a deposit of 50 RUB. You can get it back returning the card to the cashier.

train journeys cornwall

SamsungPay, ApplePay and PayPass cards.

One turnstile at every station accept PayPass and payments with phones. It has a sticker with the logos and located next to the security's cabin.

GETTING ORIENTED

At the platfrom you will see one of these signs.

It indicates the line you are at now (line 6), shows the direction train run and the final stations. Numbers below there are of those lines you can change from this line.

train journeys cornwall

In trains, stations are announced in Russian and English. In newer trains there are also visual indication of there you are on the line.

To change lines look for these signs. This one shows the way to line 2.

train journeys cornwall

There are also signs on the platfrom. They will help you to havigate yourself. (To the lines 3 and 5 in this case). 

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A ride across passages of history - Moscow Metro rolls on

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Click on the map to enlarge it

Lying at a depth of 5 (Pechatniki station) to 80 metres (Park Pobedy station), the history of the last eight decades unfold before your eyes, carved out of marble and granite and built in iron and glass – revealing the tastes, ideas, dreams, hopes and disappointments of the previous generations and contemporaries. The Moscow Metro dates back to 1931, when its construction first began, although engineers Pyotr Balinsky and Evgeny Knorre submitted their first designs to the Moscow City Duma as far back as 1902. “His speeches carried a strong temptation: like a true demon, he would promise to cast Moscow down to the bottom of the sea and raise it above the clouds”, a journalist for the Russkoye Slovo newspaper commented on Balinsky’s idea. Yet the Duma, made up of rich people, did not bite the bait: after all, they all lived in the centre of the city and never rode overcrowded trams.

After five failed proposals before the Duma, the Moscow Metro finally threw open its doors on May 15, 1935, 18 years after the revolution, and carried the first passengers on its moving staircases, escalators, and the padded seats of its new wagons (unlike the wooden seats in trams). The first metro line – from Sokolniki to Dvorets Sovetov (now known as Kropotkinskaya) -- was 11 km long and had 13 stations. Now, the Moscow Metro has a track of over 300 km with 12 lines and 182 stations. The city’s development outline for 2020 envisages that, by then, another 120 km will have been added to the existing routes.

For the first 20 years of its history, the Moscow Metro was named after Lazar Kaganovich, the “iron commissar” and Stalin’s right hand man, who was in-charge of construction of the first stage of the metro (incidentally, he personally blew up the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in December 1931 as a part of the Proletarian Capital project). In 1955, however, the Metro was renamed after Vladimir Lenin. Although Russia has long since changed its political track, you can still find the images of the former leader at over 10 stations, including, for instance, busts of Lenin at Belorusskaya and Komsomolskaya stations, impressive mosaics at Baumanskaya and Kievskaya stations, a tile panel in the passage between the Borovitskaya and Biblioteka Imeni Lenina stations. By a bitter irony of fate, Lenin’s full-face and side-face images decorate the Tsaritsyno (translated as the Tsarina’s Estate) station (dubbed Lenino up until 1990) – images of the very person who ordered the shooting of the royal family. You will not, however, find any images of Stalin in Moscow’s underground. A symbol of Russia's victory, he was omnipresent in the late 1940s. After his death in 1953 and the denunciation of Stalin’s personality cult, his images were gradually withdrawn from the Moscow Metro.

“Architecture developed along the same lines, both above and below the surface. Anything that emerged above ground had a reflection underground. It is equally true that vice versa never occurred: good architecture underground but bad architecture above the ground,” says Nikolay Shumakov, chief architect of the Moscow Metro. The first metro stations, up until the mid-1950s, were conceived and built as luxurious “palaces for the people”, great architecture for a great state. Art historians insist that the richly-decorated underground was a deliberate ideological move to eulogise the young Soviet country. Stations built between 1937 and 1955 are characteristic of the first architectural period. Everything completed at this time is worthy of special attention. For instance, look at the ceiling at Mayakovskaya and Novokuznetskaya stations to see mosaic panels based on designs by artist Alexander Deineka – 24-Hour Soviet Sky and Heroic Labour of the Soviet People on the Home Front. The mosaics were assembled by famous mosaic artist Vladimir Frolov, author of the mosaic icons in St. Petersburg’s Church of the Saviour on Blood. The Ploshchad Revolutsii station was decorated with 76 bronze sculptures of workers, soldiers, farmers, students and other Soviet people. You can even find a frontier guard with a dog and rub its nose for good luck. You may also note that all the figures (except pioneers) are either sitting or bent, which engendered the sad joke – “Any Soviet man is either in jail or on his knees.”

 Elements of decoration in Moscow's metro.   Photos by Alexandr Ganyushin

1955 heralded the end of the good times for Russian architecture – both underground and above ground – after the Communist Party issued a decree "On elimination of extravagance in design and construction.” Dull stations, without any stucco work, mosaics, original columns or other “unjustified” elements, were built under the slogan “Kilometres at the expense of architecture”. Things were the same above the ground, where entire cities were built of commonplace five-storey apartment blocks, all looking the same, nicknamed ‘Khrushchevkas’ after the then leader, Nikita Khrushchev. To get a sense of this period’s architecture, see the few stations built in the 1960s-1980s like Tverskaya, Kitay-Gorod and Kolomenskaya. In 2002, with the reconstruction of the Vorobyovy Gory station, the development of the Moscow Metro entered a third stage, which could be defined as ‘renaissance’. The platform of the station offers a splendid view of the Moskva River, the Luzhniki Olympic Complex and the Academy of Sciences building. Architectural canons of the 1930s-1940s were once again in use in the design of underground stations. By the same token, artists once again become involved in decorating the stations. As such, the Sretensky Bulvar station boasts silhouettes of Pushkin, Gogol, and Timiryazev and Moscow sights; the Dostoevskaya station is decorated with black-and-white panels featuring the main characters from Dostoyevsky’s novels The Idiot, Demons, Crime and Punishment, The Brothers Karamazov, and the Maryina Roshcha station flaunts its pastoral mosaic landscapes. In 2004, Russia's first monorail transport system was launched into service – an elevated track (running 6 to 12 metres above the ground) in the northern part of Moscow, linking the All-Russian Exhibition Centre and the Timiryazevskaya metro station. The evolution of the Moscow Metro goes on. It’s still a work in progress, with ambitious plans to move the Moscow Metro even closer to passengers over the next ten years, not just by adding an extra 120 km to its total track. “We want to strip the stations of everything we can,” says Nikolai Shumakov. “We are trying to show the passengers their very framework, what the metro is made of. Cast iron and concrete are beautiful.”

Joy ride: Read Gogol, Dante or savour art

train journeys cornwall

The Aquarelle Train.   Source: Reuters/Vostock-Photo

With any luck, you can ride in a retro train, a moving art gallery or a library. The trains are actually a part of the general traffic (i.e., they do not run to any special schedule) and are used on certain lines. The Reading Moscow Train , an ordinary train on the face of it, features extracts from literary works for adults and children. Each wagon has its own selection, from children’s fairy tales to Gogol. Circle Line. The Poetry in Metro Train carries an exposition, updated this year, dedicated to Italian poets Dante Alighieri, Francesco Petrarch, Giacomo Leopardi, etc. All the poems are featured in two languages, Russian and Italian. Filevskaya Line. The Sokolniki Retro Train looks exactly like the first Moscow Metro train, both inside and out. Painted brown, it has padded seats, typical wall decorations and retro lamps. Sokolnicheskaya Line. The Aquarelle Train looks like a cabinet painted with flowers and fruit on the outside. Inside, it is an art gallery featuring art reproductions from the Vyatka Apollinary and Viktor Vasnetsov Art Museum. Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya Line.

Revolution Square station (built in 1938) is close to the Red Square area. There are 72 sculptures in the station, depicting the people of the Soviet Union, including soldiers, farmers, athletes, writers, industrial workers and school children.

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Elektrostal to Ashford by train

Travel from Elektrostal (Russia) to Ashford (United Kingdom) by train (2507km): schedule and information to the train connection. Compare fares and buy your ticket.

The train connection Elektrostal (Russia) - Ashford (United Kingdom) runs via Poland, Germany and France. The best travel option is by direct overnight train from Moscow to Paris. In Paris you change to the Eurostar train to London. This journey is possible in less than 48 hours. Train ticket fares start from about 250 EUR. Please read the following travel information and blog posts.

Your travel route could be like that.

1 Elektrostal (Russia) - Moscow (Russia) - Warsaw (Poland) - Berlin (Germany) - Paris (France) - London (United Kingdom) - Ashford (United Kingdom)

railcc

The following links could be interesting for you.

train connections : popular connections travelled by other users

The route consist of more than one step. You have to buy several train tickets.

1a Travelling from Elektrostal (Russia) to Moscow (Russia)

To travel in Russia by train, buy your ticket online via one of the given booking links. There you find exact schedules and ticket prices. The price depends on the type of train and the time you travel and can vary a lot. For most trains you can chose your seat if you book online. And it is the easiest way if you do not speak the Russian language. Good to know: in Russia you will find very interesting long-distance trains, travelling overnight. They usually offer: 1st class sleeper with 2-berth compartments, 2nd class Kupé with 4-berth compartments and 3rd class Platskartny with open-plan dormitory cars.

1b Travelling from Moscow (Russia) to Warsaw (Poland)

Travel from Moscow to Warsaw by direct train. The journey time is 15 hours. Train tickets are available from 150 EUR. The trains run overnight via Belarus and offer compartments with 1, 2 or 4 berths. They are very comfortable and high quality. If you want to avoid Belarus, you can travel via Ukraine. First travel from Moscow to Kiev by overnight train. The journey time is 13 hours, tickets are available from 70 EUR. Then travel from Kiev to Warsaw by day or overnight train. The journey time is 15 hours and tickets are available from 45 EUR. Find train schedules and buy your ticket via the given booking links.

Where to buy a ticket from Moscow to Warsaw?

Polrail Service offers train tickets for Poland and to bordering countries.

You will receive your suitable ticket for this route here. Most even convenient as e-ticket by e-mail. Very good and extensive support included, as well as many payment options.

Online shop for train tickets of the Polish State Railways PKP.

train connections: popular connections travelled by other users Warsaw - Moscow

1c Travelling from Warsaw (Poland) to Berlin (Germany)

To travel from Warsaw to Berlin by train, buy a "Sparpreis Europa" saver ticket of German railways Deutsche Bahn. The ticket price starts from 29 EUR. The journey time is about 6:30. There are at least four direct train connections per day by the Berlin-Warszawa-Express. Find the exact train schedules and buy your train tickets via the given booking links.

Where to buy a ticket from Warsaw to Berlin?

Official saver fares! Official online shop of German railways (Deutsche Bahn). Train tickets for Germany and to bordering countries. Buy your saver fare tickets easily and securely here.

Cheap train tickets! Buy your train ticket online on Omio. The easy to use booking system with very good prices and e-tickets.

train types: Train types you are likely to travel with. Twoje Linie Kolejowe (TLK) / Berlin Warszawa Express (BWE)

train connections: popular connections travelled by other users Berlin - Warsaw

search for train schedules here: Online timetable information, on which you can find relevant, up-to-date connections. rail.cc Deutsche Bahn

1d Travelling from Berlin (Germany) to Paris (France)

Travel from Berlin to Paris by ICE, Thalys and TGV INOUI high-speed-trains. The ticket price starts at 39 EUR. The journey times is 8:30 hours. There are at least five train connections per day with only one change of trains. If you want to include an overnight train, travel the following route: - Berlin to Basel by ÖBB nightjet overnight train. The ticket price starts at 29 EUR. The journey time is 11 hours. - Basel to Paris by TGV Lyria train. The ticket price starts at 29 EUR. The journey time is three hours. Find the exact train schedules and buy your ticket via the given booking links.

Where to buy a ticket from Berlin to Paris?

Interrail/Eurail celebrates its 50th anniversary. Get 10% discount now! --> Make your journey easier: buy only one Interrail or Eurail pass instead of several train tickets. Save your time and money!

train types: Train types you are likely to travel with. Intercity (IC) / IntercityExpress (ICE) / ICE Alleo Germany - France (ICE Alleo) / TGV Alleo France - Germany (TGV Alleo)

train connections: popular connections travelled by other users Paris - Berlin

1e Travelling from Paris (France) to London (United Kingdom)

The fastest way to travel from Paris to London is by Eurostar high-speed-train. The journey time is only 2,5 hours from city center to city center. Ticket fares start from 57 EUR. There are 15 or more Eurostar connections every day. Find the exact train-schedule and saver-fares via our booking links. As earlier you book, as cheaper the ticket prices are. If you want to travel cheaper, you could use a bus. The journey time is much longer with nine hours. But the tickets are much cheaper and start from 14 EUR. Companies like Flixbus offer several connections per day, also over-night. The bus tickets are available via our booking links.

Where to buy a ticket from Paris to London?

Cheap international train tickets Official online shop of Netherlands railways (NS International). International train tickets for Europe including overnight trains. Buy your saver fare tickets easily and securely here.

train types: Train types you are likely to travel with. Eurostar (EST)

ferry: Ferry connections that might be helpful. Calais - Dover

train connections: popular connections travelled by other users London - Paris

1f Travelling from London (United Kingdom) to Ashford (United Kingdom)

To travel the United Kingdom by train, buy your train ticket online via one of the following booking links. There you find exact schedules and ticket prices for all operators in England, Scotland and Wales. Book early to get advance and off-peak fares. If you travel several legs, we recommend to have a look at a rail pass such as Britrail, Interrail and Eurail.

Where to buy a ticket from London to Ashford?

Online shop of Caledonian Sleeper. Tickets to their night trains.

15% discount If you are travelling more than one route in the UK, the BritrailPass is a very good value option. Find prices and information on the official Britrail Rail Pass here.

night train: Night trains that might be suitable for this trip. Caledonian Sleeper London - Glasgow / RIV London - Penzance / CAL London - Aberdeen / CAL London - Edinburgh / CAL London - Fort William / CAL London - Inverness

bus: Bus connections that might be helpful. London - Paris / London - Amsterdam

ferry: Ferry connections that might be helpful. Harwich - Hoek van Holland / Holyhead - Dublin / Dover - Calais / Liverpool - Belfast

train connections: popular connections travelled by other users Ashford - London / London - Birmingham / London - Cambridge / London - Edinburgh / London - Glasgow / London - Leeds / London - Liverpool / London - Manchester / London - Newcastle upon Tyne / London - Nottingham / Birmingham - Manchester

By Train through the Highlands in Scotland

Undiscovered scotland, from inverness to thurso and wick, by caledonian sleeper from london to inverness, world class city in a nutshell, take the night train to cornwall., travel by high-speed train or slower and cheaper by bus., across the north sea with europe's longest ferry., need a cheap place to sleep we recommend booking.com, find a cheap flight compare prices on kiwi.com.

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COMMENTS

  1. Explore Cornwall by train

    The Maritime Line. Truro to Falmouth. From the cathedral city of Truro - home to the Royal Cornwall Museum and Lemon Street's splendid Georgian architecture - take the train to Falmouth and visit its excellent beaches, public gardens, picturesque shopping streets and magnificent natural harbour. Read more. The Looe Valley Line. Liskeard ...

  2. Cornwall By Train: 23 Inspiring Journeys & Days Out By Rail

    Night Riviera sleeper train - London to Penzance, Cornwall. For starters check out our London to Cornwall sleeper train photoblog - it'll whet the appetite for this classic journey that really shouldn't be missed.. In October 2012 I took the sleeper train to Cornwall. I was looking forward to the journey but wasn't expecting quite the experience I enjoyed.

  3. Top 5 Scenic Train Journeys in Cornwall

    Tamar Valley Line. Perhaps one of the most picturesque train journeys in Cornwall, this line from Gunnislake to Plymouth stops at Plymouth's historic Royal Naval dockyard, Calstock and all the stunning coastal and riverside places along the way. This branch line follows the River Tamar as it wends its way through 14 miles of countryside and ...

  4. One-week coastal Cornwall by train itinerary

    Day 3: Falmouth > Eden Project. Next travel east towards the Eden Project - you can't get all the way there by train so have to catch a bus for the last part of the journey. First take the 09.18 train from Falmouth Town, changing at Truro onto the 09.53 to St Austell, which arrives at 10.08.

  5. Visit Cornwall

    Bodmin Railway - Main line - Bodmin When travelling the main line stop off at Bodmin Parkway and discover the excitement and nostalgia of steam travel with a journey back in time on the Bodmin Railway - Cornwall's only full size railway still operated by steam locomotives. When you sit back and relax in style and enjoy a leisurely 13 mile round ...

  6. The most scenic train rides in Cornwall

    The St Ives Bay Line (St Erth - St Ives) (Image: Wikipedia) This train journey is not only one of the most scenic in Cornwall but also in the whole of the UK. The views are just stunning as the ...

  7. Travel to Cornwall by Train

    When you travel by train you could save over 50% just by booking in advance. Travel off-peak. You can save a 1/3 with a railcard.A selection of railcards are available whether you are between 16 and 30 years of age (16 - 25, 26 - 30 Railcards), travelling with family and/or friends (Family and Friends Railcard), travelling in a pair (Two Together Railcard) or over 65 (Senior Railcard) and ...

  8. Trains to Cornwall

    Accessible booking tool. Save money on your regular journeys with a season ticket. Our weekly, monthly, annual and flexible season tickets mean there's a ticket for you, however you travel. Buy season tickets. Check train times, find out about disruptions and get journey advice. From.

  9. Home

    Visit Cornwall's Premier Steam Railway! Step back in time as you sit back, relax and enjoy the 13 mile round trip. ... Bodmin Railway. Book Your Tickets Now . Our 2024 Operating Timetable can found on our Timetable and Fares page. We are open and steaming every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday. ...

  10. Railtrail Tours

    From Only £2,529.00. Experience the character and charm of the Isles of Scilly on our exciting new tour. Journey along the English Riviera, discover Cornwall's cathedral city of Truro, admire the iconic Cornish coastline, and stay in the beautiful Star Castle Hotel.

  11. The Sensational Isles of Scilly

    Day 2 - A scenic sail on the Penzance-St Mary's Ferry. After breakfast on the train this morning, we journey to the magnificent Isles of Scilly by ferry. Sailing past Cornwall's iconic coastline, you'll see wonderful views of the quaint villages and the Land's End peninsula. We dock at St Mary's, the largest of the Isles of Scilly, and travel ...

  12. Seeing Cornwall By Train

    Instead this desire to take the train to Cornwall arose from the enticements provided by the original Great Western Railway to its prospective travellers more than 80 years ago. Spend as much time as ShowMeTheJourney does escaping modern life, by visiting Britain's preserved steam railways and the GWR posters produced in the 1930s, selling ...

  13. Breathtaking views from Britain's most scenic railway journey

    St Ives Railway Station recorded 720,062 entries and exits between April 2022 and March 2023, the most journeys from any station in Cornwall with the exception of Truro.

  14. Launceston Steam Railway

    Our enchanting 2½ mile narrow gauge railway offers train rides through the unspoilt countryside of the Kensey Valley in Cornwall. All trains are hauled by lovingly restored Victorian Steam Locomotives. . You can spend the whole day at Launceston and the Steam Railway - At Launceston Station, you can enjoy a tasty lunch or a luxury cream tea ...

  15. Statesman Rail

    Statesman Rail | Discover our range of Inspirational Journeys. Sit back and relax, welcome aboard the celebrated Statesman. Cruise across stunning landscapes en route to the most iconic destinations in the British Isles whilst being served the finest of the regions food and drink.

  16. The best surf spots in Cornwall

    Cornwall is connected to the rest of the UK via Great Western Railway. Direct trains from London run to Penzance via Exeter and Plymouth, plus there are smaller branches that'll take you to Newquay and St Ives. Check out the Trainline app for tickets and train times. Header Image Credit: Getty Images, Mark Leary. Image Location: Perranporth ...

  17. Onboard the UK's sleeper train that travels to some of the country's

    It's among the country's favourite train journeys and is the most efficient way to make the journey from London across ground. It also opens the rest of Europe up to people from Devon and Cornwall ...

  18. Devon and Cornwall's Great Scenic Railways

    Some of Britain's most scenic railways. Explore Devon and Cornwall by train and enjoy stunning coastal views, rolling green countryside, wooded valleys and river crossings.. Visit picturesque villages, fabulous beaches, historic market towns and bustling cities. Forget the hassles of taking the car and concentrate on exploring to your heart's content.

  19. Train strikes in May 2024: Full list of dates and lines affected

    Rail lines are set for disruption in the week following the first May bank holiday as train drivers at 16 rail companies strike on different days. Thursday 25 April 2024 10:29, UK Image: Pic: Reuters

  20. Moscow Metro 2019

    It is open from 6 am to 1 am. Trains come very frequently: during the rush hour you won't wait for more than 90 seconds! Distances between stations are quite long - 1,5 to 2 or even 3 kilometers. Metro runs inside the city borders only. To get to the airport you will need to take an onground train - Aeroexpress. RATES AND TICKETS. Paper ticket

  21. A ride across passages of history

    Now, the Moscow Metro has a track of over 300 km with 12 lines and 182 stations. The city's development outline for 2020 envisages that, by then, another 120 km will have been added to the ...

  22. Murnau am Staffelsee to Elektrostal by train

    To travel by train from Murnau am Staffelsee to Elektrostal, use one of the direct night train connections on the route from Berlin to Moscow. Tickets for this section can be bought from 160 EUR. You can find the exact timetable and ticket prices via the booking links. You can also find the train connections and fares to Berlin (from 19 EUR ...

  23. From Elektrostal to Ashford by Train from €125.00

    The train connection Elektrostal (Russia) - Ashford (United Kingdom) runs via Poland, Germany and France. The best travel option is by direct overnight train from Moscow to Paris. In Paris you change to the Eurostar train to London. This journey is possible in less than 48 hours. Train ticket fares start from about 250 EUR.