Network Rail has today completed its work to upgrade the railway in west Cornwall, which it says means passengers will have more reliable journeys.

A team of engineers, with the help of six Network Rail engineering trains, removed old track and ballast - the stones that support the track - between Penzance and Truro, and on the St Ives Bay line.

They went on to replace it with new ballast, railway track and sleepers.

Since starting the work more than one kilometre of new track, sleepers and ballast were installed, around 1.4km of rail and sleepers were repaired and 15 signalling and communications cabinets were replaced.

The work was completed at 5am this morning (Friday) and train services have resumed as scheduled.

Lee Hildreth, Network Rail’s project manager, said: “We are delighted to have completed these important railway upgrades and thank passengers for their patience whilst we have carried out the work.

“The improvements will help provide passengers with more reliable journeys and is another example of our investment in the railway in Cornwall following recent signalling upgrades in the south west.”