A draft of the third Local Transport Plan for Devon and Torbay has recently been
issued for consultation and is available for reading on the Devon County Council
website here . The final version of the plan will take account of the comments made
during the consultation period. The timetable is constrained by the need to have
the final document approved by the Cabinets and Full Councils of both authorities
during January and February.
As part of the consultation process the Tarka Rail Association has responded to the
draft plan.
CONTACTS:
ALAN CLARK (TRA PROJECT OFFICER)
(01363) 84874
alan@almatan.plus.com




In a hard-hitting report released today the Tarka Rail Association (TRA), a volunteer
group dedicated to improved rail service on the 39-mile route between Exeter and
Barnstaple, makes a number of key demands. Among them:
The expansion of the current
hourly train service to 18 hours a day, and the provision of a late-night train from
Exeter to Barnstaple departing at around 23:00.
Enhancements to the track to achieve
Barnstaple - Exeter journey times of less than one hour while maintaining the current
station stopping pattern.
The provision of more modern Class 150/153 three-car trains
to improve passenger comfort and to boost seating capacity on the route, which today
carries 90% more passengers that it did in 2001.
The 18-page TRA report comes in response
to a Network Rail Route Utilisation Strategy document issued for consultation in
September.
TRA Chairman John Phillips is keen to emphasize the vital role that a
local voluntary group can play by responding constructively to network and corporate
planners. "We have an unrivalled knowledge of the issues that most affect passengers
day-to-day, and we see it as our job to make sure the planners are fully aware of
passenger needs and concerns that otherwise might go unnoticed," explains John.
"We
view our report very much as part of a cooperative process," adds John. "The Tarka
Line has experienced greater passenger growth than any other route in the West of
England. A collaborative effort between all the major stakeholders -- Network Rail,
First Great Western, Devon County Council and, in particular, the passengers who
ride the line and whom we represent -- is crucial to the line's future success."
CONTACTS:
ALAN
CLARK (TRA PROJECT OFFICER)
(01363) 84874
alan@almatan.plus.com

There is no doubt that the advance planning visit undertaken by representatives of
First Great Western, TravelWatch SouthWest, First Devon and Cornwall and the Tarka
Rail Association delivered substantial dividends as regards running times and pick
up/drop off points, and we hope that similar visits, involving representatives of
the Association, will be made before the arrangements for future road replacement
services are finalised.
There was very positive feedback from customers to the initiative to continue operating
trains between Crediton and Exeter Central/St Davids, thereby avoiding the 'slow
and unreliable' road journey between Crediton and Exeter city centre.
The rail: bus/coach transfer arrangements at Crediton worked very smoothly - customers
particularly appreciated the buses/coaches picking-up adjacent to the northbound
platform and setting-down adjacent to the southbound platform, which made the transfer
quick and easy, and it was pleasing to see ticket checks being undertaken on trains
between Crediton and Exeter St Davids and at Barnstaple for departing passengers.
March 2010

The road replacement operation was well managed and supervised by the First Devon
and Cornwall representative - their drivers were deployed to meet every arriving
train, direct customers to the correct vehicle and assist with luggage. The use of
three Optare Solo low-floor vehicles on the four minibus diagrams between Barnstaple
and Crediton was particularly appreciated by people with disabilities and parents
with pushchairs.
We hope that similar arrangements will be made for future line closures, when all
the work by Network Rail is being undertaken north of Crediton.
RAIL REPLACEMENT SERVICE SUCCESS
Coaches awaiting a Barnstaple bound train
TRAIN SERVICE IMPROVEMENT FOR CHAPELTON
Whilst acknowledging that Chapelton has the smallest population and is the least used station on the Tarka Line, it nevertheless deserved Tarka Rail Association’s efforts to correct the anomaly introduced in 2008, when the stop in the late afternoon train back from Barnstaple on Mondays to Saturdays was erroneously deleted, meaning no suitable service home for those going to Barnstaple on the morning train at 0759.
Therefore from the Timetable introduced on 23 May the 1708 Barnstaple to Exmouth train will again call at Chapelton by request.
May 2010
TRAIN SERVICE IMPROVEMENT FOR LAPFORD
Lapford, despite being the largest centre of population on the 'Community' railway between Crediton and Barnstaple has in recent years seen a steady reduction in services for a variety of reasons. There are no residents with influence through the line's user group/other decision makers (unlike Morchard Road !), the station has parking for only about 4 cars and is not ideally placed for many potential village users, although there is a direct and well maintained short cut footpath from the village centre down to the station.
Some years ago a non subsidized local bus service was introduced from Chulmleigh to Exeter that goes through the main part of Lapford but does however not serve St. Davids station and is slower than the train.
With all trains,except the first from Exeter, now calling at Morchard Road, it was thought that Lapford people (who had a car) would use Morchard Road as the local rail connection or ‘railhead’, but in practice this is only very occasionally the case and plans to officially increase the car parking area at Morchard Road are now unable to proceed due to land ownership & other constraints.
There are some 30 new houses planned to be built close to the station on part of the old 'Ambrosia' Milk Factory ..ideally placed to encourage use of the station. All this has led to calls from some Lapford residents for a better service at their local station.
Therefore the Tarka Rail Association has successfully pursued with First Great Western (and with support from Devon County Council but regrettably and surprisingly not from the Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership) for a second morning service in the Timetable introduced on 23 May, on Mondays to Saturdays to Exeter at 0914 from Lapford, to maximise the journey opportunities for potential new passengers.
This has been achieved without increasing the overall journey time between departing Eggesford & departing Crediton (& vice versa) as most day time trains have about 4 to 5 minutes spare time on this section of the journey.
However to gain this extra train at a far more useful time of the day, has meant the stop in the 2023 Barnstaple - Exeter which called at Lapford at 2054 has been deleted.
May 2010


As one of the longest established User Groups, we very much welcome the fact that
we are being consulted on the Coalition Government’s plans for Reforming Rail Franchising
and have been pleased to participate in the process.
As will be seen, our response has been prepared following a great deal of thought
and research as well as internal consultation within our Association.
We fully understand the Government’s view that the process is in need of reform and
the current financial constraints which this process has to adhere to.
CONTACTS:
ALAN CLARK (TRA PROJECT OFFICER)
(01363) 84874
alan@almatan.plus.com
ANOTHER EXTRA TRAIN FOR THE TARKA LINE
With the introduction of First Great Western’s Winter Timetable on 12 Dec. a new late evening train is to run on FRIDAYS ONLY from 17 December. leaving Exeter Central at 22:46 and Exeter St. Davids at 22:50 calling at Crediton (23:01), Yeoford (23:12), Copplestone (23:17), Morchard Road (23:20), Lapford (23:24), Eggesford
(23:32), Kings Nympton (23:40), Umberleigh (23:50) and Barnstaple (23:59).
This new train on FRIDAYS ONLY is principally to cater for those wanting to use the Tarka line to visit Exeter for an evening out and for those returning from day trips to London etc, also for those coming to North Devon for the weekend who currently have to be collected by road from either Tiverton Parkway or Exeter if they cannot get to Exeter St Davids in time for the last train to Barnstaple at 21:00 (Mons. to Sats.).
A consequence of this is that the existing last train from Barnstaple will now depart at 22:16 instead of 22:18, and will not call at Chapelton, Portsmouth Arms, Kings Nympton, and Lapford.
The first train on Mondays to Fridays from Barnstaple will, from the new timetable, leave at 07:00 from Barnstaple (7:09 from Umberleigh),(07:30 from Eggesford ) and run 8 minutes earlier to Exeter St Davids so as to provide a connection into the 0814 train to South Devon, Plymouth and Penzance.
The additional earlier train each way on Sundays, introduced from May this year, has been successful and will continue to run this Winter, 08:39 from Exeter St.Davids to Barnstaple and return 10:00 from Barnstaple to Exeter .
November 2010

PASSENGER NUMBERS BREAK ALL RECORDS IN 2010
Final figures for 2010 have just been released by the Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership
for passenger usage on the Tarka Line , and although the prediction was that the
400,000 barrier would be broken the final figure of 446,795 exceeds all expectations.
LATE TRAIN CONTINUES INTO 2012
The later last train on FRIDAYS introduced in 2010 continues to be increasingly appreciated and used by those living or staying along the line, and we are pleased to confirm that this extra service will continue to run in the new 2011/2012 timetable from 11th December 2011.
This service departs from Exeter Central 22.48 and arrives into Barnstaple at 23.59
October 2011
CONNECTION INTO SLEEPER ON FRIDAY NIGHTS
Commencing on Friday night 16/17 Dec 2011 the additional train introduced from the 22 May 2010 timetable leaving Barnstaple at 0005 (Saturday only) and arriving at Exeter St Davids at 0100 on Saturday morning is NOW scheduled to connect with the London bound sleeper service (available for both sleeper and seated passengers) leaving St Davids at 0106, arriving Taunton at 0135, Reading at 0400 and London Paddington at 5.13.
October 2011
STILL HEADING FOR 500,000 THIS YEAR!
The 27th of October saw the last day in service for the 142 series units that had been “borrowed” from Northern Rail whilst awaiting 150 series units cascaded from the West Midlands. A special farewell tour was organised, details of which can be found in the Gallery section of this website. Passengers can now look forward to a more comfortable ride - now we just need more capacity!
November 2011
INTERNATIONAL AWARD FOR BARNSTAPLE
Barnstaple station has been named the overall best small rail station in the UK and Ireland. The announcement was made at the sixth annual International Station Awards, which took place at the Cobh Heritage Centre in Cork on November 24th and involved eight major rail companies from across the UK and Ireland.
November 2011
MORE JOURNEY OPPORTUNITIES
FROM NEWTON ST CYRES
From the start of the new timetable new journey opportunities have been created, due to the rearrangement of stops at the station. These are detailed in the document here
December 2011