Great Western Coffee Shop

Penzance train station: Giving travellers a good welcome

Penzance railway station is wrapped in scaffolding as the site undergoes major renovation.

All the metalwork is set to be repaired and repainted, including the rafters, stretching the entire length of the roof.

The overhaul also includes the replacement of the clear Perspex surface across the top of the building.

"It took a month to erect the scaffolding; it is pretty huge," said Sara Rogers, station manager, who added that the works were being carried out by Network Rail. "There were lots of little holes in the roof and when it was raining we were getting a lot of rain mist coming through the roof and onto the platforms."

She added that First Great Western had also supported the introduction of netting to stop birds nesting in the rafters.

Although the scaffolding, erected by local company Chris Sedgeman Scaffolding, is now dominating much of the waterfront station, Mrs Rogers said staff aim to keep disruption to a minimum.

"There hasn't been that many issues, more confusion," she said. "When you look at the scaffolding it looks like an optical illusion and you can lose yourself in it."

Over the past six months First Great Western has been carrying out its own improvements to the station in a bid to make it more welcoming.

As part of a national station improvement programme, the station now boasts a new waiting room, station lighting and refurbished toilets as the company focuses on making the building more appealing.

The programme, which has cost ^616,000, has been carried out by Network Rail, First Great Western and Cornwall Council.

"We want to make it look more welcoming and cared-for," she said. "We also work closely with Cornwall Council as we are very conscious that this is the termination station of the Great Western line and we want the station to have that appeal and give a good impression of Penzance."

The works on the roof are due to begin shortly and are expected to be complete by the end of January.