Full News Report
26th August 2025
More trains stopping at Saltash during Bridge/Tunnel works
REGULAR commuters to and from Plymouth will not particularly welcome news that the continuing A38 Saltash tunnel upgrade works are likely to impact journey times in the coming months.
Hopefully, it’s a case of a little short-term pain for long-term gain but only time will tell.
National Highways, working in conjunction with Cornwall Council, paused much of the work during the end-of-summer-season Bank Holiday weekend but the extensive upgrade to the technology in and around the tunnel, including the control system which, it is said, will future-proof the structure for many years to come, will be starting up again as autumn beckons.
Said a spokesman for National Highways; “We’re progressing phase one of our works as we continue our major upgrades to the A38 Saltash Tunnel.
“Piling works and concrete foundations are now complete. This paves the way for installation of four, eight by nine-metre gantries at the end of the month.
“The new gantries will house electronic information signs displaying live traffic and travel information.”
And he added: “The ducts underneath the road that will eventually house the new cabling, are in place. The team are continuing their works to pull huge swaths of cabling through the tunnel to the bridge and out to the separate control buildings.”
Regular Tamar Bridge users who have been inconvenienced by the work may be interested to know that Great Western Railway (GWR) and National Highways have now arranged for a limited number of temporary additional train calls at Saltash (up to 29 train stops per day) while the tunnel works continue in the hope of easing traffic congestion in the area.
For the residents of Saltash, it means that more trains than ever will stop at the local station, offering a ten-minute journey time into Plymouth for as little as £2.75 if users hold a railcard.
For other customers from the wider South East Cornwall area who want to avoid the extra journey time by road this autumn, ‘Park & Ride’ car parking capacity is available at Liskeard Station, with the train journey from there taking only 25 minutes to reach Plymouth.
Perhaps the most conspicuous aspect of the improvements next month will be the resurfacing of the A38 between St Budeaux and the Tamar Bridge ‘toll plaza’ which will take place overnight, on weekdays, until Friday, September 26.
Warns the spokesman: “Please be aware that a new road lay-out will be in force.
“More information is available at https://nationalhighways.co.uk/our-roads/south-west/south-west-maintenance-schemes/#a38stbud under A38 St Budeaux to Tamar resurfacing.”
It is understood that the Saltash Tunnel improvements will be paused, at least on the Plymouth side, during the resurfacing works but are expected to resume on Wednesday. October 1.
For up-to-date travel information, please check Cornwall Council’s travel alerts website page or visit Traffic England.
Added the spokesman: “Please note that, as with any complex scheme, dates are subject to change.”
He went on: “As we move through the scheme, dates will be announced and kept up to date on our dedicated webpage.
“Please check on-line for the latest information. You can also sign up via the webpage to receive notifications when new information has been added.
“We apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused but thank you for your continued understanding.”