Hayle railway station

Hayle railway station (Heyl) serves the small town of Hayle, Cornwall, United Kingdom. Great Western Railway manage the station and operate most train services.

It is on the Cornish Main Line 7 mi north-east of Penzance, 319 mi from the zero point at London Paddington measured via Box and Plymouth Millbay.

History
The station was opened by the West Cornwall Railway on 11 March 1852 when it replaced the original Hayle Railway terminus, located in what is now the Isis RNLI Memorial Gardens. It was demolished shortly after the end of World War II.

During the 19th century, Hayle was a busy junction with goods lines running all round the town, many connecting from the embankment which is still visible behind the 'up' platform. However, the decline of shipping in the Hayle estuary meant that these freight lines were no longer of any use and were closed in 1981. Hayle signal box was closed and demolished at the same time.

Station masters

 * James Henry Walters ca. 1867 - 1874 (killed at Camborne after falling when attempting to enter a moving train)
 * Thomas Albert Williams 1877 - 1895 (formerly station master at Redruth, afterwards station master at Chippenham)
 * James Gale 1895 - 1897 (afterwards station master at Truro)
 * C.H.W Isaac 1897 - 1912 (formerly station master at Carn Brea, afterwards station master at Redruth)
 * Harry Jack Fisher from 1912 (formerly station master at Penryn)
 * William Henry Harris 1926 - 1933 (formerly station master at St Dennis Junction)
 * A. Wingett 1933 - 1937
 * E.T. Roberts 1937 - ???? (formerly station master at Yelverton)
 * W. Reynolds 1943 - ???? (formerly station master at Lostwithiel)
 * John Frederick Martin ca. 1950
 * E.F. Bealey ca. 1959

Description
The main entrance is to the platform served by trains to Penzance, which is approached by a road from Foundry Square. A footpath allows level access to the other platform too, and this continues along the route of a closed railway track down towards the wharves opposite a bridge which leads across the water to the Towans.

A camping coach adjacent to the westbound platform offers holiday accommodation.

Services
Hayle is served by regular Great Western Railway trains between Penzance and Exeter St Davids. There is a single service each weekday operated by CrossCountry to Edinburgh Waverley.