St Ives Bay Line
St Ives Bay Line
4.5
About
The train journey to St Ives has to be one of the most scenic in Britain. Enjoy the spectacular views from the train window as the line sweeps along the coast past the golden sands of Hayle Towans and Carbis Bay before arriving in St Ives. Then head for the beach, explore the harbour or wander the shops and art galleries.
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- louiseholisticPenarth, United Kingdom1,391 contributionsA fun way to get to St IvesWe parked our car at St Erth - £2.60 all day off peak - and caught the train into St Ives. Beautiful scenery! Lovely, sweeping views of Carbis Bay and Portminster Beach. £8 day return.Visited October 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 9 October 2023
- Paul FChesterfield, United Kingdom4,628 contributionsFantastic journeyWe often to the extended journey departing Redruth to St Erth then do the final stretch to St Ives. It's a really pleasant run and for the money I think it's an excellent way to arrive in St Ives. Stunning views across to Godrevy and St Ives, miles and miles of shore and sea view. Staff great, tearoom at St Erth is lovely.Visited November 2023Travelled with familyWritten 26 November 2023
- Susan H32 contributionsA Train Trip with Coastal Views.Beautiful coastal trip, around 10 minutes. We took the train from St Ives to the end of the line and back again getting off at Carbis Bay which is lovely and has places to eat, drink or just have coffee. We then walked the easy coastal path back to St Ives. The return fare was £4 per person with regular trains. Well worth it.Visited March 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 3 April 2024
- steven DLincoln, United Kingdom52 contributionsScenic tourA regular service between St Ives and St Erth is a must do when in Cornwall. Grab a seat on the sea side of the train for a very scenic tour. Do drop offs at Carbis Bay for a beach day.Visited May 2024Travelled with friendsWritten 16 May 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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4.5
87 reviews
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Orv
Birmingham, UK66 contributions
Sept 2020 • Family
If you're considering the St Erth Park and Ride as an option to get into St Ives...don't waste your time.
Ticket machines out of order, those that aren't don't have the card payment option in working order, and neither the "app" or the phone number for payment works. When you ask the train staff how you pay, you are told to use cash...despite big signs on the ticket machines telling you to not pay by cash due to covid...figure that logic out. And if you don't have the right change on you to pay (because, you know, there's covid and who's carrying round a purse full of loose change these days) then you're out of luck.
On the bright side, plenty of parking spaces on site, mainly because everyone else has worked out the prices are a con and the service rubbish, so may as well just drive into the town and pay the £6.20 to park there.
Oh, and if that wasn't bad enough, the staff have a degree in being unhelpful as well as an attitude problem.
Ticket machines out of order, those that aren't don't have the card payment option in working order, and neither the "app" or the phone number for payment works. When you ask the train staff how you pay, you are told to use cash...despite big signs on the ticket machines telling you to not pay by cash due to covid...figure that logic out. And if you don't have the right change on you to pay (because, you know, there's covid and who's carrying round a purse full of loose change these days) then you're out of luck.
On the bright side, plenty of parking spaces on site, mainly because everyone else has worked out the prices are a con and the service rubbish, so may as well just drive into the town and pay the £6.20 to park there.
Oh, and if that wasn't bad enough, the staff have a degree in being unhelpful as well as an attitude problem.
Written 30 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stuart B
87 contributions
Aug 2020 • Family
Booked our tickets on 29 July for 20 August, we'll in advance. Great price for all family at 9.95
My complaint comes when I got to the station. Our ticket time was 11:18. We were early even though the park and ride car park contact less payment was down meaning we had to use the app to pay. This was cheap though at 2.30
Annoyed that got to the platform prior to 11:18 and told train full, gave to wait half an hour for next one. I spoke to the manager to say we had booked in advance so should be on the train. No you can just turn up, get a ticket and still get on before me with pre booked tickets, work that out. I thought with covid they would want to know the exact numbers coming but getting on the train is a free fir all. Basically you book a time on the ticket but you can use it anytime! Website doesn't say that.
Train journey itself is quick and scenic. There's no cleaning or sanitisation by staff after you get off. You have to wear masks which is fine.
Again pretty annoyed when leaving the train they almost shut off the bridge back to the car park as more than 18 people on it. Yet they didn't care how many was on the platform or train and no cleaning in between, a farce. Also tried to make people take a bus back to the car park rather than walking over bridge. I just think the staff were very power crazy wearing their fluescent jackets!
I won't be taking the train again in future, would drive and park. The staff even said why don't you take the bus rather than the train when it was full, obviously thats the whole point in taking the train if you book train tickets!
My complaint comes when I got to the station. Our ticket time was 11:18. We were early even though the park and ride car park contact less payment was down meaning we had to use the app to pay. This was cheap though at 2.30
Annoyed that got to the platform prior to 11:18 and told train full, gave to wait half an hour for next one. I spoke to the manager to say we had booked in advance so should be on the train. No you can just turn up, get a ticket and still get on before me with pre booked tickets, work that out. I thought with covid they would want to know the exact numbers coming but getting on the train is a free fir all. Basically you book a time on the ticket but you can use it anytime! Website doesn't say that.
Train journey itself is quick and scenic. There's no cleaning or sanitisation by staff after you get off. You have to wear masks which is fine.
Again pretty annoyed when leaving the train they almost shut off the bridge back to the car park as more than 18 people on it. Yet they didn't care how many was on the platform or train and no cleaning in between, a farce. Also tried to make people take a bus back to the car park rather than walking over bridge. I just think the staff were very power crazy wearing their fluescent jackets!
I won't be taking the train again in future, would drive and park. The staff even said why don't you take the bus rather than the train when it was full, obviously thats the whole point in taking the train if you book train tickets!
Written 20 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NeilMcCauley
Guildford, UK45 contributions
Sept 2021 • Family
I’m sure nice out of season but way too busy to be enjoyable in season. Long queues, 45 min standing wait for next train as previous one full, can’t get a seat and certainly not on the right side, many seats facing away from destination/view, people pushing past small children and pushchair to get on and claim the best spot. Added to that, consider any concern you might have for spreading covid, as you are in a cramped environment for approx 20 mins.
Written 2 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BobBonHere
Lytham St Anne's, UK2,710 contributions
Sept 2021
We planned to use this branch line to travel to St Earth, have a drink in the station cafe, return to Carbis Bay to then walk back to St Ives along the Coast path. The journey to St Erth was fine and quite picturesque but then we hit problems. No-one seemed to be serving at the cafe at the station (plus there was no room to sit that complied with social distancing), and the massive queue of people waiting for the return train meant that we had to stand- fortunately for only a short distance- to Carbis Bay. The rest of our planned day out went fine
Written 14 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peter S
9 contributions
Jun 2022
The trip on the St Ives line was reasonably short but provided some great views of the coast. The train is often crowded, particularly in the summer months. We started at the St Erth train station and it was clearly a station that was well maintained and had the facilities you would expect, including ticket office, toilets and a small take away coffee shop. Make sure you have your camera ready during the trip, and you will enjoy the views to the beaches and countryside. The walk into St Ives is less than 5 minutes, through the train carpark.
Written 12 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
therichastill
Stevenage, UK3,227 contributions
Jan 2020 • Solo
One of the best ways to get to St. Ives is by train and leave the car somewhere else.
There are park and ride facilities at St. Erth and Lelant Saltings stations.
As the train goes forward make sure you sat on the right hand side of the train so you get some spectacular views of the golden beaches.
The train also stops at Carbis Bay and the terminus at St. Ives is only a 5 minute walk from the harbour which is a very pleasant stroll.
At St. Erth there are trains running every 30 minutes to Penzance, Plymouth, Exeter and beyond so leave the car at home and give yourself a visual treat.
There are park and ride facilities at St. Erth and Lelant Saltings stations.
As the train goes forward make sure you sat on the right hand side of the train so you get some spectacular views of the golden beaches.
The train also stops at Carbis Bay and the terminus at St. Ives is only a 5 minute walk from the harbour which is a very pleasant stroll.
At St. Erth there are trains running every 30 minutes to Penzance, Plymouth, Exeter and beyond so leave the car at home and give yourself a visual treat.
Written 25 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
leilei00009
Greece465 contributions
Apr 2021
No matter how many times I travel on this line the views remain spectacular. To be able to see the turqoise waters of Cornwall and they Hayle Estuary as you relax on the train, is purely amazing. Train is scruffy and dirty on the inside as passengers often let their children to step on seats with shoes and sand and people arrive from the beach on to the train without getting rid of sand from their clothes. This makes it a less pleasant journey for the rest who don't want their coats and light coloured clothes to get dirty.
Written 29 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christina M
United Kingdom6 contributions
Jul 2021 • Couples
Parking in St Ives is a nightmare when you have a wide car and an elderly dog who can't walk very far! The St Erth Park n Ride was brilliant - and dog friendly. Staff were waiting at the car park ticket machine, issuing all tickets needed for the return journey - very helpful and polite. It was a sunny afternoon so we were lucky to see the wonderful scenery from the train, with sea bright blue and shimmering in the sunshine. Trains were on time and not overcrowded - a great experience which took the stress out of parking in a busy and popular town.
Written 7 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dave f
Southport, UK831 contributions
Sept 2021 • Friends
Great but short return train journey from St Erth to St Ives, large park and ride car park with spaces for motorhomes and also Caravans.
Inexpensive too, only £12 to park a motorhome and four adult return tickets to St Ives.
Great views of the coast from up high, station at Carbis Bay for a lovley quiet beach.
On reaching St Ives. Beach is down steps from just outside the station platform, or a short stroll to the Harbour.
Stations and even the track are clean and very well kept.
Inexpensive too, only £12 to park a motorhome and four adult return tickets to St Ives.
Great views of the coast from up high, station at Carbis Bay for a lovley quiet beach.
On reaching St Ives. Beach is down steps from just outside the station platform, or a short stroll to the Harbour.
Stations and even the track are clean and very well kept.
Written 2 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
louiseholistic
Penarth, UK1,391 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
We parked our car at St Erth - £2.60 all day off peak - and caught the train into St Ives. Beautiful scenery! Lovely, sweeping views of Carbis Bay and Portminster Beach. £8 day return.
Written 9 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Do you need to prebook the train?
Written 7 July 2020
Pre-booking isn't mandatory, but the rail operator GWR is encouraging people to "plan ahead, book in advance, and download your ticket to a mobile device or smart ticket where you can."
You can do this on the GWR app for example.
Also please remember that a face covering must be worn on all public transport, except for children under 11 and adults who are unable to due to disabilities or other conditions.
Written 10 July 2020
Yes. You can take up to two dogs per person on the train as long as they are wearing a lead. This is free of charge.
One thing to bear in mind - St Ives has quite strict 'no dogs on beaches' policies during the summer months. For full information on this, do a Google search for 'dogs on beaches cornwall council' and visit the Council's official page which gives the rules for each beach.
Written 19 July 2018
Is it possible to take a wheelchair onto the train. Please note adult can not walk.
Written 6 July 2018
Yes, all trains carry wheelchair ramps to allow boarding. If you are doing the first part of your journey by car, park at Lelant Saltings station (TR26 3DL) and board there. This is the official 'Park & Ride' for the train journey into St Ives. If travelling on a sunny day it's best to park early as the car park (and the train) can get very busy.
For further information, please contact Great Western Railway's Assisted Travel team on 0800 197 1329 (open 06:00 to 23:00).
Written 10 July 2018
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