Great Western Coffee Shop

I thought of travelling to Camborne by train and making it our base for two or three days, because of the new Wetherspoons hotel and what appears to be a flat walk to and from the station.  (From what I can see, the footbridge over the track can be avoided by using the level crossing and each platform is accessed by a permanently open entrance.)

My question to members is where could we go by train or bus, whilst there?  I was taken aback that the train stations don't seem to have lifts for changing platform, and my husband is no lightweight to push in a wheelchair, so only routes with small inclines are feasible. 

 

The railways still have much Victorian infrastructure, predating lifts and accessibility - so it's a matter of history that they don't have all the facilities at many stations.    I'm delighted that a new footbridge at Chippenham opens next Friday, with lifts to the platform and to the booking office - at a cost of about 3 million pound for 2 lifts and 3 staircases.

A good campaigning friend of ours who's wheelchair bound has taught me a very great deal about station access (and my goodness I've pushed him some interesting routes!)  Changing platform at Trowbridge and at Bradford-on-Avon, even with the new accesses at each, remains a long way round to use the road bridge.

I don't know Camborne - perhaps other can help.   But if a new bridge with lifts were put in there, it would cost (at Chippenham rates of 1 million per lift and 330k per staircase) 2.6 million pounds - equivalent to a payment of one pound for every single passenger arriving and leaving from the station for the next 10 years.   And that's just one station - and an indication of the cost of the issue!

St Ives and Penzance both have half hourly buses from Camborne, Truro has 10-15 minute interval bus services from Camborne. The bus station is level walk from both train station and Wetherspoons Pub/Hotel. The Penzance/St Ives/Truro buses are 99% wheelchair accessible buses- in times of disruption an older double decker with step entry can sneak onto the service, but I recall this happening once or twice in the last year, and with such a frequency it isn't long to wait for the next one.
All platforms at Penzance, Redruth, Truro, St Austell and Hayle in the west of Cornwall are wheelchair user friendly due to access from the road being available on both sides of the railway line, or in the case of st Austell a new footbridge with lifts.
St Austell also has the luxury of the bus station being adjoined to the railway station so good for changing from bus to train.
St Austell railway station has good connections to Newquay, Fowey and Mevagissey by bus.

Many thanks for that very detailed 'local information' reply, richwarwicker.  :)

I forgot to mention Camborne 'spoons is in my opinion the best 'spoons I've eaten in for quality. Whilst they are all the same ingredients etc, the staff at Camborne seem to take pride in what they are serving.

Don't forget that trains don't stop Camborne Wednesdays.

For those who may not be familiar with that particular reference: may I offer you the following, from Jethro https://youtu.be/_axHV2wx8RA (warning: rather sweary).  ;D

I certainly wasn't familiar with that reference.  Thanks everyone for your informed replies.  It makes me realise how many facilities Taunton Station has, relative to its size and importance: three lifts, a waiting room and toilets, including disabled, on either of its main platforms, one station buffet and two car parks.

Ah, but the Taunton Station you see today is but a shadow of what it used to be - and I should know: I'm an expert on 'Taunton'  ::) :o ;D

I lived in Camborne for part of 1973-74, probably much has changed. It seems much has stayed the same though. Penzance is a nice train ride, though I am sure the bus has its charms, but the interesting bits include hills. From there, buses run to Lands End - you would need to check accessibility of the bus and the destination. From St Austell, I suggest a bus to Charlestown, only a couple of miles, and a lovely harbour. I got there to find two tall ships, and the BBC packing up after filming Doctor Who. Also close to Snozzle is, of course, the Eden Project, which has won awards for its facilities for the disabled.

Be careful if considering Hayle with a wheelchair, the station is at the top of a bit of a hill

The nearest bus stop to Charlestown is approx. 3/4 mile from the village.

Lands End bus isn't normally accessible by bus, one of the few route can guarantee a step entrance bus.

You might already know about this, but the National Rail website has an index of stations.  This is the one for Camborne http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/CBN/details.html (http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/CBN/details.html)

Information includes details of staffing, accessible toilets (yes at Camborne), bridges, lifts, entrances etc.

Enjoy the break.

Thank you Tim and gentlemen - richwarwicker, old original and Four Track, Now! - for your tips and local knowledge.  I have made National Rail's Stations Made Easy my bible and coupled with Google's Street View, the route in and outside the station can be planned in advance.  If only the weather could be forecast with such accuracy!

I just wanted to add that depending on your requirements a rover may be suitable e.g.:

Freedom of Devon and Cornwall Rover - 3 in 7 days
Freedom of Devon and Cornwall Rover - 8 in 15 days
Freedom of the South West Rover - 3 in 7 days
Freedom of the South West Rover - 8 in 15 days
Ride Cornwall Day Ranger

There is more detail here http://www.railrover.org/ or the regular users on here may be able to help.

I have found this useful for planning routes/accessibilty before for the underground, but there may be other items of interest on there (I have put the link to London Waterloo station just as an example):
http://www.directenquiries.com/information/Waterloo/74452/summary/information.aspx

Thanks, Fourbee, for the fares information and for Direct Enquiries, which I had a good look at.  It's all grist to the mill.

25 & 30 Bus stop near Charlestown Chapel close to the Harbour. 

St Erth being the exception - it's possible to visit St Ives by train using a wheelchair using the local easement - doubling back to St Erth from Penzance is permitted - last time I looked it was only for stations 'uplong' Truro and beyond. 

For some reason I thought that the nearest stop was at the Church (church rd), as the last time I travelled on 25 it didn't go through Duporth road either way, routing Mount Charles roundabout to Charlestown Rd to Church Rd to Carlyon Bay.

Thank you, Chris.  I'd noticed in the journey planner that the day return fare from Camborne to St Ives could be routed via Penzance, and you have confirmed it.  I am guessing that is what you mean by easement.  In fact, I've booked our tickets from Taunton to Camborne.  The advance purchase fare, with Railcard, is only ^8.90 in standard class on a direct, Great Western service.  It seems a bargain.

It is a bargain! It is amazing what you can find if you don't mind adapting your plans to fit the cheap seats. It's always worth checking 1st class, which can be cheaper than standard. Not a word outside of this forum, though!

I've been caught out up at the Church too - current timetable says an hourly service via Duporth.
(don't forget no public Loo any more)

The 'easement' is a relaxation of the ticket routing restriction to St Ives to allow for folk who can't use the footbridge at St Erth.

If you did decide to visit St Ives there's not much to choose between train or bus (apart from timing) as you effectively arrive at the same place - if it's at all possible to manage a few steps exit the platform but go forward and right (everyone else will go left) and walk a few paces to the steps to the Beach/Toilets - if you can manage that you are on the flat all the way to St Ives harbour.

The only benefit of the bus is nor having to walk up the big hill from the station.
Train station is at the bottom of a steep hill, bus station is at the top. The town is over the brow of the hill the other side.

Ride Cornwall is excellent value for a days exploring by bus/train at ^10 (8.30railcard) valid on all trains and first buses after 9am.

Mousehole is a nice little village to visit on a nice day, not much there but worth an hour or so on a good afternoon. Always low floor Optare Solo operated as bigger buses can not get into the village. Half hourly service from Penzance. There is a nice pub on the harbour front right beside where the bus terminates.

A day out I often utilise with a ride Cornwall ticket on a nice day is

Catch Bus/train to Penzance just after 9, spend couple hours in Penzance, bus to mousehole spend 1 hour there, back to Penzance and then bus over to st Ives for a few hours.

The 16 route is more scenic than the 17 if you fancy the scenic route from Penzance to st Ives but takes around 20 minutes longer, again due to the narrow route almost always single decker operated so all DDA compliant now.

Not forgetting, also valid on Plymouth CityBus/Go Cornwall routes originating and/or terminating in Cornwall. Just not valid on CityBus journeys wholly within Plymouth.

Ride Cornwall is stunning value when compared to First's ^10 offering for a day on the buses.

16A is my preferred route as you go via Newmill, Gurnards Head & Zennor - teatime can be iffy when the cows are coming in for milking.

My thanks to Chrisoates and richwarwicker for their suggestions for going places by bus and also the detailed instructions for St Ives.  You've given me plenty of material to fill our three days and hopefully by April there will be an end to this rain.

Just to say that our mini-break to Camborne has come and gone.  It was difficult pushing a wheelchair, even with husband walking whenever the way got steep, but, taking heed of suggestions, we went to St Ives by train and to Truro and Falmouth by bus, and took a boat trip from there.  The most unexpected but exciting part of our trip was setting off on Sunday 10 April and finding our railway carriage engulfed by spray at Dawlish.  The train crawled into the station about two hours after the morning high tide but the waves were still impressive.

Camborne's Richard Trevithick Day will be held on Saturday 30 April.  I believe he was a pioneer of steam power but I'm sure others on this forum know more about him.

Thanks for posting that update, Eliza.  ;) :D ;D

Richard Trevithick was indeed one of the great pioneers of steam powered travel - see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Trevithick

Where did you stay in the end?

Maybe a review in the b&b/hotel thread would be helpful to others

http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=11917.0

Stayed in the John Francis Basset in Camborne and have just posted a brief review, as suggested.