First Train welcomed at New East Wheal Rose Platform
Visitors at Lappa Valley were part of a special moment on Tuesday 17th February 2026 as City of Truro hauled the very first passenger service into the attraction’s brand-new platform at East Wheal Rose.
A full train of excited Lappa Friends travelled on the inaugural arrival, marking the official opening of the new facility — the first new platform built on the Main Railway in around 45 years.
The project has taken just over two months to complete and forms part of the attraction’s wider winter improvement programme. Each year, the quieter off-season allows teams across the park to carry out maintenance and invest in new infrastructure ready for families returning in spring.
The new platform has been positioned closer to The Engine Shed Café and Soft Play and has been designed with accessibility in mind, helping make boarding and arrival easier for pushchairs and wheelchairs.
The development also includes a spacious concourse area intended to improve the overall welcome for guests arriving by train and enhance the visitor experience ahead of the new season.
Keith Southwell, Managing Director at Lappa Valley, said: “It was wonderful to welcome a train full of Lappa Friends to the first new platform on the Main Railway in around 45 years. The new location makes things much easier for families and guests with accessibility needs, and it’s an exciting first step in a much bigger redevelopment.”
The investment follows another landmark year for Lappa Valley, which welcomed a record-breaking 121,000 visitors in 2025 — the highest attendance in the attraction’s history.
Recent industry recognition and awards have also highlighted the continued growth and popularity of the park, with ongoing improvements helping to maintain its reputation as one of Cornwall’s leading family attractions.
The East Wheal Rose platform project represents the first stage of a larger programme of improvements across the site. Plans include rebuilding a brand-new gift shop and replacing the former platform as part of ongoing investment in the attraction.
Across the park, winter works have included maintenance of railway vehicles, improvements to pathways and facilities, and preparations for another busy year of family visits.
As the first train rolled in and passengers stepped onto the new platform, the moment marked not only the end of months of work — but the beginning of the next chapter in Lappa Valley’s continuing evolution.