park. The northern range incorporates staff accommodation as well as refreshment facilities which appeared in a list of the ten best station cafes published in The Guardian in 2009. Platforms 2 and 3 have a long canopy above them to protect passengers waiting for their train. At the west end of this is a covered footbridge which links with the main westbound platform for trains to Penzance, and a large wooden shelter is provided here. A small granite building further up the platform is for staff use. As with several other stations in Cornwall, small palm trees grow on the main platforms, both of which can accommodate seven-coach trains. In 2017, a new concourse and ticket office was opened in St Erth, replacing the old ticket office which was smaller. The new building now includes toilet facilities and a waiting lounge, including a medium-sized ticket office with two windows. This process also included upgraded step-free access to the concourse and to platforms 2 & 3. A new entrance to platforms 2 & 3 near to the station café was also built, next to an also new private building for staff only. An improved transport interchange is under construction in 2018. Platform layout Platform 1 is the westbound platform and is used by almost all services to Penzance, with the exception of those originating from St Ives. Platform 2 is the eastbound platform and is predominantly used for services towards Truro, Plymouth, Exeter, London and Bristol, as well as a small number of services that go to St Ives from Penzance. Platform 3 is a bay platform that is exclusively used by trains to/from St Ives. Alongside platform 3 is a loading bay that was previously used for goods trains towards St Ives. Because the main line is on a falling gradient towards Hayle, at the buffer stop end of platform 3 a few steps are needed to connect platforms 2 and 3 but at the east end they are nearly level. Standing at this end of the station the line to St Ives curves away to the left over Western Growers Crossing towards the covered way beneath the A30 road. The Cornish Main Line towards Hayle drops gently to the right with the signal box situated between the two. The Down Sidings on the right of the main line are level and so are higher than the main line at