A pleasant surprise at Saltash today as new signs have appeared at the London end of the up and down platforms



The signs are in the approximate position of the 'Cornish Railways' signs of the 1980s however the one on the up platform advised that passengers were leaving Cornish Railways, perhaps to emphasise that anything untoward occuring past that point was nothing to do with them 

 
Ah, back to the vision of a Treulfoot Park and Ride for Plymouth.  That was a clever idea back in the day.

 

I think they cancelled it and used the money to fill in potholes in the home counties. ;-)

 
*Snips 'Specsavers'*

That line from Looe direct to Trerulefoot and thence Saltash and Plymouth, has it not been finished yet?

Mark

 
Clearly need to go to Specsavers.

 

bob, this is Saltash not Liskeard! The sleeper does not stop there any day, even Wednesday!

 
It looks great - I'd go to Saltash just for that breakfast! 

 
Shame it doesn’t open fractionally earlier for those coming off the sleeper - but still time for them to get a breakfast before the train to Looe.

 
Trackside Cafe at Saltash station is now officially open Monday - Friday from 6.45am until 2.30pm serving breakfast baps, toasties, sandwiches, hot pasties, tea, coffee, soft drinks, etc, all available to eat in or take away.

I'm not affiliated in any way  - just very pleased to see another brilliant advance in the provision of services available at my local station 

(Image linked from announcement post in Facebook group 'Saltash Group')

 
An update from the SRUG today:

"Saltash Town Council have agreed a deal to open the café and waiting room at the station. This will mean that an accessible toilet and somewhere dry to wait for your train will be available soon"

Not to do a disservice to the two waiting shelters already in existence on the platforms but the environment of the station building is certainly far nicer than either of those.

Another great step forward in this brilliant project.

 
Impressive.  Looks very good

 
Another significant step forward in the project this week as the security fencing has been removed, exposing much more of the building on the platform side. Keen to see what the next step will be!



Regards,
Ross

 
Thanks Ross. 
My mother used to live very close to the station back in the 1930s. I remember her saying that she and her sister were at school in Devonport and would make a last minute dash to get the train when they could see the approaching smoke/steam from their kitchen window.

 
Marvellous!

 
Thanks Ross.  That is so good to see.

 
Greetings all,
As I was passing by the station on the weekend I took a few shots of the exterior, of which an excellent job has been done - look forward to being able to view inside, whenever that may be...





All the best,
Ross.

 

I meant to post this link the other day - some very interesting photos of the interior with work well underway. So good to see this well-overdue project finally started https://www.facebook.com/pg/SaltashStationProject/photos/?tab=album&album_id=562729894062916.

 
On passing through this evening (16/4) I notice that there's a portacabin and two full skips of rubble next to the main building and scaffolding has been erected inside, so it looks like work is underway.

 

Wonderful news! For those on a wider screen ... alternative URL:
https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=3136689789690532&id=218231828203024

 
Some good news today:
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=3136689789690532&id=218231828203024

Press Release from Saltash Town Council regarding Saltash Station.

Press Release - Saltash Station Refurbishment Contract Signed.

Tuesday 19th March 2018

Saltash Town Council have now formally entered into a contract with CORMAC Construction Limited for the refurbishment of the Saltash Station building. This is a key milestone in the project to restore the building and bring it back into use.

The contract is for £388,000 and will see the shell of the building completely renovated and insulated. Where appropriate windows and doors will be replaced or refurbished. The work will see part of the building re-opened as passenger waiting facilities, with the remainder being left open plan and with a flexible use.

The work has been made possible with grant funding from Cornwall Council (£140,000 as part of their Local Transport Plan budget), Great Western Railway (£102,000 from their Customer and Community’s Improvement Fund) and the Railway Heritage Trust (£60,000) as well as utilising £70,000 of local Section 106 funds.

The Town Council are grateful for the support of many individuals, groups, organisations and businesses, and are pleased that we can fund this work predominantly through grant funded sources. The council is confident that this project is important to most residents of Saltash, many of whom have proactively campaigned for this to happen over several years.

CORMAC Construction Ltd were chosen as our contractor in December after a competitive tender process. The Bailey Partnership is our architect partner and will be responsible for overseeing the refurbishment process. The works will take approximately 6 months to complete, although there may be an extension if further funds are found to complete phase 2 (which includes a small extension and full internal fit out).

The project is led by Councillor Richard Bickford, who said ‘I am thrilled to get to this stage, and very thankful for the incredible level of widespread support we have received. I must offer a big thank you to my fellow town councillors, both past and present, who have given unswerving support. I know that many people in Saltash have waited a long time for this to come to fruition, and I look forward to welcoming them to the building in due course.’

Paul Childs from the Railway Heritage Trust commented that ‘This building has an important history and its position alongside the world-renowned Royal Albert Bridge has given it greater importance. We are pleased to help restore the building and provide important facilities for rail passengers.’

 
I'm happy to read this welcome news that a wonderfully situated piece of railway heritage has been saved.

 
On BBC Radio Cornwall this morning an item that Saltash Town Council have now purchased the station house and are intending to do a full restoration on it.  It seems the building is not listed, either.
Nothing on their web site yet in writing as it's too early.  The listen live link is only valid until 9am today.
It can then be heard on iPlayer.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/player/bbc_radio_cornwall

From Cornwall Live on June 6th 2017
http://www.cornwalllive.com/new-life-on-the-way-for-crumbling-saltash-train-station-eyesore-at-gateway-to-cornwall/story-30374161-detail/story.html

New life on the way for crumbling Saltash train station eyesore at gateway to Cornwall
By Jeff_Reines  |  Posted: June 06, 2017


The 'gateway to Cornwall' has been an eyesore but will see new life.
 
A community hub could emerge from the crumbling wreck of a railway station in Cornwall. There have been plans in the works for years to revamp what was the waiting room at Saltash station, which has not served as part of the rail network for more than 30 years.

Now Saltash Town Council has announced that an offer to buy the building, which has changed hands twice in the past decade, from the current owner has been accepted.
The council had previously considered using a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO), but Councillor Richard Bickford, secretary of the Saltash Rail Users' Group, said it was "much better" to do it this way.
"We have managed to negotiate a purchase from the current owner," he said, "but that is only half the story as we still need to find all of the funding and put things into place. We hope to reopen the waiting room as a community building, will the potential for office space above."
Then and now: The station has been spruced up.
The station known as the "gateway to Cornwall" has caused upset since it started falling into disrepair, with thousands signing a petition to re-vamp the area.
And owner Darren Bennetts refused previous offers to buy the station from him.
At a meeting in September last year, the council agreed to advance the process towards a CPO but this is now deemed unnecessary.
Councillor Bickford said: "Cornwall Council made the owner spruce up the building, and we have negotiated the purchase of it. We are now starting to work up solid plans and apply for funding to achieve it. It has been a long battle of negotiations, but we have had funding support the Great Western Railway [GWR], which has been pretty supportive.
"It is great for [GWR], the council, and the residents of Saltash to see things happening.
image: http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/images/localworld/ugc-images/276351/binaries/16353342.JPG
 
"It has already been made an awful lot better after the clean-up, which helped lot to improve the derelict state of the building, and we now have a real opportunity to move forward. Fortunately we haven't had to go down the CPO route; that would have been very difficult and not something town councils usually get involved with.
"It is much better for everybody to do it in a friendly manner."
image: http://www.cornwalllive.com/images/localworld/ugc-images/276391/binaries/station%202.JPG
 
The councillor has put forward different options for the site, which would include a waiting room, café and toilets, plus additional space for commercial opportunities and community and town council use.

Read more at http://www.cornwalllive.com/new-life-on-the-way-for-crumbling-saltash-train-station-eyesore-at-gateway-to-cornwall/story-30374161-detail/story.html#QwDzw6r3cTW1fTOW.99

Did try and copy/paste but images didn't come out and it's become rather messy - sorry.

   
 

 
Thanks for that reminder, smokey - and congratulations on your 1,000th post!

Regards, CfN. 

 
Saltash station building really is a mess, more so on the road side.

yet back in the 1950's Saltash station took more in fares than any other station in Cornwall except Truro.

 
From the SRUG Facebook page:

 

This is not new!  The paper must have only just caught up with this "news".
The cant of the track means that the rake of the ramp is too steep to safely dis/embark a wheelchair.

 

A new risk assessment perhaps. 

 
I read in a local paper this morning that 'First Great Western'  (sic) have advised the Saltash Rail Users Group that for trains using the Plymouth-bound platform they are no longer able to provide assistance to disabled/mobility impaired passengers by use of the ramp. Apparently this is due to 'Health & Safety' issues.

What I'm curious about is - what has changed to suddenly make this such an issue and surely there must be a stipulation in the conditions of the franchise that the service is made accessible to all, and that measures need to be put in place to overcome any health & safety issues in order to provide this?

 
I suspect it's just a ploy to get the council off his back for a little while. I don't foresee much else happening with the building

 
I have come to my own rescue (!!) and have posted images on the CRS website (October headlines)

http://www.cornwallrailwaysociety.org.uk/headlines---latest-reports-and-photographs

 
I have some images from this morning, but my attempts to post have seemingly failed (mods help?).
It looks nice, but I wonder if it will last.

 
The shrubs growing next to the chimneys have been removed too, although the roof slates still need replacing by the looks of it.

 
Going past this afternoon, it seems that the building has received a tidy-up and a coat of paint, platform side at least. Definitely looks a bit better when coming into the county.

 
It seems that the future of Saltash station building is a little more secure. 


http://www.cornishguardian.co.uk/decrepit-saltash-train-station-is-finally-set-for-upgrade-after-years-of-tension-and-delays/story-29715874-detail/story.html

 
Bbc radio Cornwall are discussing the crumbling building at saltash today.
The following posting on Facebook earlier today from them.


As a side radio Cornwall have been covering rail topics most days recently campaigning for improvements

 
Many thanks for that update.   Looking back, this thread is sparse on pictures of the building in question - so here goes, all July 2015 vintage

 
The latest situation on this is that the town council are organising two separate valuations on the property from which an offer will be made to the current owner. If the offer is turned down they will seek options via a compulsory purchase order.

An application has also been made to GWR through a scheme that I've forgotten the name of but I believe it provides grants for communities to spend on station-related improvements, so would certainly help offset some of the costs if approved.

I would imagine that if appealed for there would possibly be a fair few volunteers on hand to assist too and maybe even tools/materials from local businesses provided FOC.

 
GWR management have expressed support - but I suspect it would be a NR decision, into the TC's hands.

 
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/save-saltash-train-station?source=facebook-share-button&time=1468331657&state=sign

Petition to Saltash Town Council:


This is an old station building - and not a threat as I understand it to curtail train services in any way (though for comments, some of the signatories think it is!).   I can testify to the sad, sad state it was in last summer, and the poor impression that gives people as they come in to Cornwall, and as they arrive at Saltash for the first time.

 
I have only been to (as opposed to through) Saltash once.  Arrived by train and the station building really set the tone for my being underwhelmed by the place.  Ate one of the worst pub meals I have had in a while and got back on the next train. 

It struck me that the whole town could do with a bit of TLC.  Tidying up the station would be a great start. 

The statue of IKB was nice though. 

 
I'm sure there was a thread already concerning Saltash station but it evades me - please merge the topics if you can find it!

Finally, something is being done about the terrible state of the station, as reported here:
http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/Plans-transform-decrepit-Saltash-station-near/story-27732131-detail/story.html

Reading through the story and it's associated images, it seems the poor architect was subject to some unusual practices in order to deliver a proposal they were happy with.........or is that a proposed use for the new development?! 

 
Many thanks for posting that update, alexross42.

The petition already has 34 signatures - but many more are needed!

Please do click on the link above and offer your support, as appropriate.

 
Concerning news today that the current owner of Saltash station is rumoured to be planning an application to build 4 x 4 storey dwellings on the site, and this will obviously mean demolition of the old railway station buildings.

The following petition has been set up for people to register their ojections:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/save-saltash-station-building-2

 

Platform 7 is worse when alighting.   I had to jump from the 150 to the Platform !!!

 
I've had some scary moments getting the anklebiters on and off at Montpelier - a bosun's chair would help. Not so bad now, but when they were 5..!

 

Try a Class 150 on Platform 3 at Bristol Temple Meads. Scares me!

 

You're right Exeterkiwi, for Plymouth-bound services there is quite a gap and step up required between the platform and the carriage, I don't remember seeing any other station that requires such careful exertion to board a train!

As for the station, it's been an eyesore for so long but now that the bridge is nearing completion of it's overhaul (let's not talk about the approach spans for now....) it would be a fitting time to get the station cleaned up to the same standard. There's a few uses that the building could be put to, I know the station attracts tourists for the views it provides of Brunel's bridge so you've got somewhat of a guaranteed footfall right there for starters....

 
My Mum had a  issue with the platform height on the Plymouth Side at Saltash. It Was a Class 150 Unit  I believe, She OK now but worried about getting off the train at Saltash. She is over 70. When I last got off the train at Saltash it was interesting.

 
From the Cornish Guardian:

 
good luck with that one lol 

 
Anyone want to run a cafe in part of the building?

 
I went last year... It's not exactly the jewel in the crown of stations

 
It also used to house the Station Booking office, which up to 1961 used to about the 2nd biggest money taking booking office in Cornwall, beaten only by Truro I believe.

I wonder what happened in 1961? 

Shame the plans for a Brunel Heritage Centre never came to anything.

 
Thats the Richard Bickford of this parish...

 
From the BBC:

 

I presume the netting is for Dawlish as I've noticed some falls while walking from the Warren, pity there's not an alternative method of stabilisation as it will ruin the view.

 
A series of improvements are due to be made to six separate sections on the line, starting with more than two weeks of intensive work at the Marley Tunnel, Dawlish sea cliff and Plymouth station (link below.)
http://www.thisisthewestcountry.co.uk/news/devon_news/4052745._Tremendous_benefits__promised_to_rail_passengers/

Altogether, half a mile of new railway track, 1,500 sleepers, 3,000 tonnes of ballast, more than a mile of new drainage pipes, five sets of points and 15,000 square metres of cliff nets will be installed.

 
From Saltash Rail Users Group:

 
See http://www.srug.org.uk/

 
Thanks for that information, vacman - that sounds a lot better, if it was an isolated incident. 

 
Packed train from Fal was late and missed the unit in front hence the extra stops.

 
Isn't that the excuse trotted out by organizations when they are featured on the 'Watchdog' programme:  "Oh, we've just been the victims of our own success ... " ?

 

 
Does this bode well for the weekend? From the FGW website :

17:37 Penzance to London Paddington due 23:29

This train has been revised. It will additionally call at: Lostwithiel, St Germans and Saltash. This is due to an unusually large passenger flow.

 
From Saltash Rail Users Group :


Correction received from SRUG :

 
The following are now available from the SRUG website :

Walking and Cycling to/from the station leaflet (link below.)
http://www.srug.org.uk/document-library/doc_download/5-walking-and-cycling-tofrom-the-station

Days Out from Saltash by Train 2008 leaflet (link below.)
http://www.srug.org.uk/document-library/doc_download/4-days-out-from-saltash-by-train-2008

 
Further message from Saltash Rail Users Group :

 
From Saltash Rail Users Group :

 
First Great Western have agreed extra stops on through services over the regatta weekend. We expect over 10,000 people to visit the regatta this year, and hopefully many will arrive by train. Saltash train station is just a short distance from the regatta.

The regatta are also producing a special regatta leaflet that will show these extra services, which will be distributed across FGW stations in the South West.

Come along, you are all welcome.

http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Content.aspx?id=2644

http://www.saltashregatta.co.uk

(Topic now linked to calendar - Lee Fletcher.)

 
From Saltash Rail Users Group :

 

No need to apologise, was just trying to help out so you didnt get any complaints!!

I apologise for not seeing the note re St.Germans 

 
Yep, hands up, a few little mistakes. I will put it up here first in December...

Not too worried about the 1454 NQY, too much, people may turn up a little early. All weekday trains call St Germans, in fact all trains call St G apart from our down 1045 on a Saturday as the Saturdays have rolled over from last summer, hence not listing St G. It is mentioned in the notes section.

It is the 1826 that I refer to as my poor interpretation of the timetable, and I will put out an email and post a notice at the station regarding the Newquay connections.

Roll on a Monday to Saturday timetable, it will make things a bit easier.

Apologies for the mistakes, we all make them.

 
Another part shows the 1454 NQY running full period, it doesn't run in Jul/Aug, it's replaced by 1504 Nqy-Padd, just me being nit picky. 

 

I think Vacman was referring to the 18:26 only running to Newquay for part of the period, terminates Liskeard peak summer and is not indicated.

Also the 10:47 on the down calls Ferry Road so should be ---B   

Also why show Menheniot and not St.Germans? Have never seen a passenger travel MEN to STS while there is a sizable flow just between STS and SGM.

 
Think I have found it. I am going to blame my interpretation of the FGW timetable. Page 16 seems to indicate a connection from the 1506 from Paddington. The 'e' referencing 'Connections applies 30 June to 5 September' put me off the scent.

We will put up notices to indicate other options...

 
Go on tell me...

 
I spotted a couple of mistakes in the timetable, no note about the dated Newquay services!

 
The May 2008 Saltash timetable leaflet can be found in the link below.
http://www.srug.org.uk/saltashtraintimetable.pdf

 
The Saltash Rail Users Group website has been relaunched (link below.)
http://www.srug.org.uk/

 
From Saltash Rail Users Group (18/05/2008) :

 
Might jump on a late train some time and try my chances at getting a refund 

 
Exactly what happened to me.
I have deleted it now but the e-mail was very weird, it did not actually follow on from what I had asked them but at the end I got something relevant, We are sorry that our service was not to our high standards on this occasion and I have forwarded ^8 rail travel vouchers to thd postal adrress you provided.
Out of the blue, not complaining though. Shame our tickets came to nearly ^8 so they didn't give us as much back as you Chris.

 

I've also been sent similar 'compensation' travel vouchers, "as a gesture of goodwill", even though I've not asked for compensation when I've complained about delays in the past.

I even got one letter from the FGW Customer Services Team in Plymouth, in which they included the same 'standard paragraph' twice, explaining why they couldn't offer me compensation - but they then enclosed a rail voucher for ^25 "as a gesture of goodwill"!

All rather bizarre, as I hadn't asked for any compensation, I hadn't sent them my tickets - and my return fare on that particular day was ^3.20!

Thank you, First Great Western! 

 
I got that e-mail as I posted that, previous moans are based on assuption I wouldn't get compensation. 

 
Don't moan then!

 
i know how you feel

 
I have just received a nice e-mail appoligizing for this, they did say a load of rubbish though. They said the service was cancelled due to a fault in the drivers cab. No it wasn't, they set swapped it for a broken unit which they knew wouldn't work. They will send ^8 travel vouchers though, strange as I never sent off my tickets which came to just under ^8. Also strange as I was only delayed by about 30 mins.

 
I was one of those passengers.
Had to ask the traincrew what was going on as there were no announcments.

 
the reason they terminated it at truro was to do a unit swop with the falmouth which had failed due to fumes in the cab. thats still no excuse for leaving passengers scatching there heads thinking my train has just vanished

 
Saturdays are strange, the 11:45 ish off PNZ to PLY is booked for two units. On arrival at PLY they split one works the 14:41 to PNZ and then attatches to another unit at Penzance. The 16:40 off PNZ is then two units to Plymouth where it joins a third, this being the one that split off the 11:45ish arrival from Penzance... This unit has just sat spare at PLY all afternoon, strange move when the 14:41 down is always wedged...

Of note is todays 11:40 ex PNZ was actually a 158 as booked, make the most of it, no booked 158 work west of EXD from May 17th...

Also, in the summer TT the Falmouth is booked x2 153 as is the 14:08 PLY to PNZ and 16:44 PNZ to EXD.

 
Sorry, thought you were referring to the weekday service, it may not have started from pnz because the crew were in Truro on the terminated unit.

 
No it wasn't. I saw it ATW 150 and a Refurb 153.

 
Not sure to the exact reason but the Saturday before the 16:40 ex PNZ was only a two car set so maybe the other unit was elsewhere....

 
I am still baffled as to why it was cancelled.
There was a 153 or 150 (depending on what happened at Plymouth) there to form it.

 
Fair comment, cornishman - it's no comfort to those left stranded on any platform to know what's supposed to have turned up!

If we accept (as we probably have to) that many stations - such as St Erth, Hayle, Camborne and Nailsea & Backwell - are unmanned, how about FGW installing some method of contacting 'Control' to find out just what the heck is happening?  Perhaps something like AA or RAC roadside phone boxes - so we can at least find out whether it's worth hanging around on the platform???

 

 
never mind about how many and what units it should have been what about the passengers just left stranded untill yhe next service turns up but dont stop at there destination

 
The 16.40 off PZ on a Saturday is indeed booked a four car.....

 
Must be lucky then, I've seen it 2x 150 and 150+153, both Bristol units.
Remember it is Saturday serivce.

 
That train is only a 2 car 150, it comes off the Gunnislake.

 
Oh dear, I have travelled on it about 3 times since then. Don't know why they only decided to fail it yesterday.

 

I belive that fault on265 went in to the fault book about 2months ago!