Returned to former glory
PRIME MINISTER Boris Johnson unveiled a new Carbis Bay station sign on June 10 during the G7 conference held at the Cornish town, almost 70 years after his grandfather helped build the original. The sign has been reinstated by Network Rail, with its Chair, Sir Peter Hendy CBE, joining the Prime Minister at a ceremony held at the picturesque setting in Cornwall.
The new station sign is situated opposite the station platform. The border of the sign is made from re-used railway sleepers with the letters made from granite stone and infilled with seashells, in homage to the design of the original station sign. The space around the letters is filled with a variety of plants that will add colour to the sign. The original sign was constructed entirely out of seashells but is believed to have been removed during World War Two. Following the conflict, the sign was rebuilt in white cobbles in the 1950s.
This addition to Carbis Bay station concludes Network Rail’s recent upgrades on the St Ives Bay line, following work earlier this year to complete a £3m track renewal between Carbis Bay and St Ives as well as resurfacing the platform at Carbis Bay station.
This was the biggest track investment on the St Ives Bay line in 60 years and is helping to provide a more reliable railway for passengers in Cornwall.
Sir Peter Hendy said: “Before the war, and again in the 1950s and 60s, this unique sign welcomed local people and holidaymakers to Carbis Bay. I’m pleased that as part of our large investment in the future of the St Ives Bay railway we’ve been able to recreate it for everybody. I hope it’ll remain for generations to come and remind passengers of this lovely and memorable seaside place, as we welcome people back to the railway.”
Boris Johnson, said at the event: “It’s great to be back in my ancestral homeland of Cornwall this week to host the G7 Summit. The eyes of the world will be on Carbis Bay this weekend and I can think of no better way to mark this auspicious event than this fantastic homage to local history.” Christian Irwin, Network Rail’s Industry Programme Director, said: “It has been a real pleasure to recreate this historic signage at Carbis Bay station as part of our recent £3m investment to upgrade the line between St Ives and Carbis Bay, which forms part of our wider west Cornwall rail investment strategy.”