Perranwell railway station

Perranwell station (Fentenberan) is on the Maritime Line between Truro and Falmouth Docks in Cornwall, England. The station is managed by, and the services are operated by, Great Western Railway.

History


The station was opened as 'Perran' on 24 August 1863 when the Cornwall Railway opened the line from Truro to Falmouth. It was renamed 'Perranwell' on 19 February 1864 to avoid confusion with nearby Penryn.

There were originally two platforms either side of a passing loop, and a goods shed with several sidings to south, one of which was equipped with a two-ton crane. The yard was able to accommodate live stock and most types of goods. The signal box was very distinctive, being sited on girders above the track alongside the goods shed.

A GWR camp coach was sited at the station from 1936 to 1939, and the Western Region also provided one from 1952 to 1964.

The Cornwall Railway was amalgamated into the Great Western Railway on 1 July 1889. The Great Western Railway was nationalised into British Railways from 1 January 1948, and was privatised in the 1990s.

The goods shed still stands in the forecourt despite goods traffic ceasing on 4 January 1965. A drinking fountain on the platform is a reminder of more important days, although it is no longer in use.

A short distance on either side of the station, valleys had to be crossed on lofty timber viaducts. To the north, Carnon viaduct crossed 96 ft above the Carnon River valley and the Redruth and Chasewater Railway. In the other direction, trains crossed the smaller Perran Viaduct, which was 56 ft high and 339 ft long.

By the 1980s, the station had become run down, with only a small aluminium shelter with polycarbonate panels offering protection for passengers. However, during the late 1990s a new brick waiting shelter was built as part of a refurbishment programme at all the "Maritime Line" stations.

Facilities
There is one platform with level access from the car park, and information boards and a waiting shelter on the platform. A ticket machine was installed in 2023.

Services
A new loop at Penryn allowed the services frequency on the Maritime Line to be doubled from 17 May 2009, giving up to a half-hourly service. However, when two trains are operating, only alternate services call at Perranwell.

Community Rail
The railway from Truro to Falmouth is designated as a community rail line and is supported by marketing provided by the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership. The line is promoted under the name "Maritime Line".