St Austell Train Station

St Austell railway station opened in 1859 and has long been a key train station, serving the local Cornish community, as well as providing train services around the UK. St Austell station is a Grade II listed station situated on the hillside above the town. It was recently the site of a refurbishment project, bringing together modern and historic elements of the station.

When it opened in the mid-19th century, St Austell was comprised of an ornamental wooden building with platforms at either side, waiting rooms and ticket offices. The station was not only popular and busy due to the passengers using St Austell services, but also for the large volumes of China clay from the surrounding district and fish from Mevagissey. The town is separated from the station by a steep hill, which caused considerable issues for horses hauling heavy wagons. In 1889, the Cornwall Railway was amalgamated into the Great Western Railway and was later nationalised and re-privatised in the 20th century.

The main building of St Austell train station was built in 2001 as an addition to the existing, Grade II listed station. Designed by Lacie Hickie Caley, the new station building contains a booking office and shop, with refreshments available from the café. An accessible footbridge links the two platforms. The station is easily recognisable thanks, in part, to the two viaducts situated to the west of the station, known as St Austell Viaduct and Gover Viaduct.

Trains operated by Great Western Railway and CrossCountry run through St Austell station, with routes running around the Cornwall region and beyond – around the UK. Popular CrossCountry routes include Bodmin to St Austell, Tiverton to St Austell, Wakefield to St Austell, and Edinburgh to St Austell.

At St Austell train station, facilities include free public Wi-Fi, refreshments from Buffers café, toilets including accessible toilets, waiting rooms, CCTV, bicycle parking, and a car park which is open 24/7.

Things to do in St Austell

A visit to St Austell places you right in the heart of Cornwall and less than 2 miles from the stunning Duporth beach. There are so many ways to spend an afternoon, day, weekend, or even longer in St Austell!

One of Cornwall’s key tourist attractions and cultural sites is super close to St Austell, meaning there is no excuse to not visit the Eden Project whilst on a staycation in St Austell! Less than 4 miles away from St Austell station, the Eden Project is an eco-focused attraction site exploring humanity’s place in nature and the wonder of the world around us. With incredible biomes that house thousands of plant species from around the world, and with forest walks and educational activities, the Eden Project is truly a bucket-list destination for all kinds of people.

In the early 18th century, at Tregonning Hill near St Austell, William Cookworthy discovered China Clay. This discovery shaped the future of the surrounding villages over the 18th and 19th centuries, as clay pits and works became central to the economy. To uncover the fascinating history of China Clay in Cornwall, the Clay Villages at the China Clay Country Park cannot be missed. In the neighbouring town of Wheal Martyn, this museum offers a glimpse at the communities and lifestyles of China Clay workers and is a truly unique heritage experience.