Carnet tickets
A ‘win-win’ project that benefits rural passengers, local businesses and the railway
Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the carnets in 2014
For more than 20 years the Partnership ran a successful Carnet ticket scheme on the Tamar Valley Line.
Each Carnet was a book of five discounted Anytime Day Return tickets sold through local post offices. They can be used on any train, in either direction, up to a fixed expiry date.
The available Carnets were:
- Gunnislake/Calstock – Plymouth
- Bere Alston/Bere Ferrers – Plymouth
Following their introduction in 2004, sales of the carnets rocketed and quickly accounted for a fifth of all journeys made on the line. The scheme provides a convenient way for local residents to buy tickets, and gives people an extra reason to use and support their local shops.
The Partnership also ran a carnet scheme on the Tarka Line until 2018.
The Tamar Valley Line carnet was retired on 2026, with a special new fare introduced in its place as part of Cornwall Pay As You Go. The new tap-and-go fares are equivalent to the cost of one Carnet Day Return meaning that Carnet purchasers pay the same with the new Pay As You Go fares as they have with the Carnet.
