But First ...
The above was fbb's conclusion after observing the bus service at Penzance. But now we can add:-
Tourism is in a mess, practically and financially.
Back to sanity!
A Cornwall Excursion 2
The branch to St Ives leaves the junction station in the up direction and from the up side. The railway companies did not like termini on a hill but St Erth station is built on a slope rising up in the Penzance direction. The picture below shows a diesel unit in the bay (level) ...
... with the "main line" platform on a rise. Steps ... 
... and a ramp join the two.
The branch is always busy during the Summer, in part because car parking near the St Ives beaches is limited. In the recent past, train movements from main line to branch were controlled by gorgeously anachronistic semaphore signalling ...
... GWR lower quadrant, of course! But all that has now been swept aside by colour light modernity.
SIGH!
Also just a memory are the days of through coaches from the main line as here with a huge chunk of the Cornish Riviera Express being hauled by a tank engine into the St Ives terminus.
Despite that change in holiday patterns, trains can be busy in Summer with day trippers enhanced by Park and Ride; but, as we saw yesterday, no longer from Lelant Salings.
In their round trip to St Ives, the fbbs were able to observe, from the top deck of their route 17, the dramatic improvements to St Erth Station to cater for the needs of motorists who do not want the stress of finding parking in St Ives. The chances are that there won't be any, except at sites well remote from the beaches with a bus connection. (see later)
Here is St Erth station as of old (not too old!) approached from the main road.
And here us how it looks today.
A brand new car parking area adjoins the original station buildings where the 17 pulled in to a stop right next to the booking office.
The main entrance lies across the end of the branch platform ...
... and a footbridge carries passengers over the main lines to their trains for Penzance. It is a level walk to the eastbound trains.
St Erth used to retain its delightful GWR footbridge, covered to keep out the rain, of course ...
... but this, too, has now gone to the great scrapyard in the sky! St Erth now has a new footbridge with lifts.
Such a development is very much needed.
Because don't want to give you ONE new car park ...
... there is another much bigger facility on the south side.
A ramp and steps lead up to platform and footbridge ...
The parking charge is modest by today's standard ...
... although doubtless it will cost more in the Summer!
Slopes and lifts are not only good for the disabled or the elderly creaky, but helpful if you are encumbered with significant beach accoutrements.
Whatever happened to a bucket, a spade and a sun hat?
Timeless.
In the interest of even handedness, a quick look at the two Park and Ride sites in St Ives itself. They are linked by bus (Trenwith car park below) ...
... and are significantly more expensive than St Erth.
The other site is at the Rugby Club.
But the views are much much better by train.
And we can all enjoy the ...
... multi modal hub. Yes folks it is a station with a car park (revolutionary) and a bus stop (astounding)!
Next Variety blog : Sunday 5th Oct
It’s £5.50 in the summer all day every day at St Erth. Even at the winter prices I’m afraid I don’t consider any of these options “cheap”. It used to be the case that at park and ride sites EITHER the parking fee OR the transportation fee was free so as you still only paid one fee, in order to encourage use and be the equivalent of just parking at the actual place you wanted to go to. Increasingly now though it’s all just a money extraction thing for cash strapped councils who see motorists as easy targets…. £5.50 AND the train fare for all occupants OR £7 or £10.60 AND then £2.50 per occupant bus fares in top…? Hmmm… St Ives businesses can do without my custom and I’ll be going somewhere else! Mackay.
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