Call to reopen old train line from Plymouth to Exeter
COUNTRYSIDE campaigners have called for a feasibility study to be carried out into reopening the former Southern Railway line from Exeter to Plymouth.
Much of the route – through Okehampton and Tavistock – was closed in the 1960s leaving only one main line from Exeter to Plymouth and Cornwall.
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However, both ends – from Exeter to Meldon and Plymouth to Bere Alston – are currently operated as branch lines.
Plans to reopen another part of the line from Plymouth and Tavistock – linked to a proposed 750-home development – could see it running again by 2014.
The Devon Branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) is now proposing a study be commissioned into reopening the full length of the former main line.
John Hartley, railway representative for CPRE Devon, said: “Devon once had an excellent railway network, much of which is now closed.
“To reopen the middle section of this line, would give realistic rail access to a big area of Devon that does not have this at present, as well as a main line status to the rest of the country.”
A casualty of the Government’s sweeping cost-cutting exercise recommended by Dr Richard Beeching, the last train to run on the old Southern Railway main line between Plymouth and Exeter, via Okehampton, was on May 5, 1968.
When reviving the route has been discussed in the past, commentators have said it would be much cheaper than other alternatives as the engineering work is already done.
Mr Hartley said much of the track-bed was still intact as were important viaducts, tunnels and embankments, although there were now a few properties standing on the line.
However, sceptics point out the route would be slow and could struggle financially because it would pass through sparsely populated areas.
“We have already gone on record in calling for a feasibility study to reopen the Teign Valley line between Exeter and Newton Abbot,” said Mr Hartley.
“The Dawlish sea wall route is at present the only through route west of Exeter, to Torbay, Plymouth and Cornwall – the other two lines were used as diversions as well as serving communities and freight use when open.
“It is not suggested that the Dawlish route should close, but any closure for whatever reason cuts off the only rail route at present. The reopening of the former Southern main line would give many rural communities rail access, especially those without cars, and could integrate with other sorts of public transport.
“It could bring more tourism and hopefully create work.”
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by Nick Ratnieks, Surrey
Sunday, December 26 2010, 3:30PM
“Dr Beeching was on record on a TV show saying he wanted to shut more lines- the East Coast Mainline north of Newcastle and the obliteration of the Great Western Line to Birmingham via Bicester which is a great success today. The good doctor made cuts that are akin to the old saying that "the operation was a success but unfortunately the patient died". I think Exeter to Plymouth via Okehampton was as much a victim (as other lines were) when these Southern routes were passed from control of Waterloo and into the hands of Western men at Paddington and were then chopped. I often feel that BR actually wanted to shut all the railways to improve eficiency- and do not forget the Modernisation Plan had run out of money so unelectrified lines that relied on steam -with no more money from govt for new diesels and carriages- were shut because steam traction was going to be phased out. A complete disaster with no moratorium regarding a sensible policy of mothballing engineering on many lines for future needs. A Great British Disaster.”
by John, Tavistock area
Wednesday, February 24 2010, 9:14AM
“Fred
Highly recommended,it's marketed as the Tamar Valley line and has a reasonably frequent service 7 days a week.It runs to Bere Alston,reverses to Gunnislake,then back to Bere Alston and Plymouth,going through some stunning scenery.In about 3 years time,hopefully it will go on to Tavistock from BA-proposals for reopening at least that part of the mainline are well advanced.Interested to see you were going to a football match-would Argyle have been playing at Exeter that day? I'm a season ticket holder at Home Park and i've been to Exeter many times with the greens,altough in the early sixties i'd have been a bit too young.”
by Fred, Plymouth
Tuesday, February 23 2010, 8:56PM
“John: Thank you for that information. I was not aware of the stations along the way. I was also not aware, that part of this line was still used today. I may consider a trip on this line in the summer.”
by Joe, Cornwall
Tuesday, February 23 2010, 10:26AM
“why all this talk of reversing at exeter? why does FGW only get to use the line? Has everyone forgot about South West Trains? if they had the ability to upgrade the main line, run in to exeter and then down to plymouth (and maybe beyond) they would be able to provide a good frequent service to and from waterloo, giving alternatives to get to London.”
by John, Tavistock area
Tuesday, February 23 2010, 10:01AM
“Fred
The line you travelled on does go under the Tamar bridges and stops at Bere Alston[for Gunnislake now].Back then it would have gone on to Tavistock,Brentor,Lydford,Okehampton,Crediton and on to Exeter.I think it was a bit ,but not much, slower than the Dawlish route.
Keith
Points taken,there would be some extra expense involved,but i don't think the problem would be insurmountable,not that i think it'll happen,at least not for many years.
Matt
Is it really relevant where the demand for rail travel is coming from? You make the point about population growth,but that is a trend that will continue for years to come,ergo the demand for rail travel will increase,at least by my logic and reckoning.And anyway,i don't think that is the sole reason for the growth in rail travel-population hasn't increased that much since the early 1990's when the increase in rail travel started.But if it is a fcator,then all the more reason to consider Tavistock and Okehampton for a rail service-both towns are to expand greatly in the future.”
by Brian, Plymouth
Tuesday, February 23 2010, 12:16AM
“Quite, the current rail journey time from Plymouth to Exeter(52 rail miles) is about 60 minutes on average,slow by todays standards thats because track geometry between Plymouth and Newton Abbot limits line speeds even for HSTs to only 55/60 mph(except for a brief 80mph burst up/down Hemerdan Bank at Plympton) and Newton Abbot to Exeter although faster is still indirect via Dawlish.You can now fly from Plymouth to London city in only 70 minutes.Over the last 2 or 3 decades the trunk road network in Devon and Cornwall has been virtually rebuilt while the railway has not.If money cant be found to speed up the current Plymouth to Exeter rail route then perhaps the runway at Plymouth airport could be lenghened to allow bigger aircraft and therefore more people to fly.Personally I rather see our 19th century railway made fit for the 21st century.The problem is who is going to pay for it.”
by james, ply
Monday, February 22 2010, 10:26PM
“to be serious in this day and age the west could do with a high speed route between exeter and penzance with the existing route left for local trains and for the other parts of devon a good bus service from the the existing railways and high speed line .an hour from exeter to plymouth is a task in itself this could be cut to half an hour”
by kevinO, plymouth
Monday, February 22 2010, 9:54PM
“Worked on this line in 1962 it was a very pleasant journey to Exeter but did take a little longer !!”
by Fred, Plymouth
Monday, February 22 2010, 9:17PM
“As a matter of interest regarding the time to get to Exeter, via the Southern Line as opposed to the line now used, I remember travelling on this line in the early sixties. As a teenager, I arranged to meet a group of friends, with a view to travelling to Exeter by train, to watch a football match. I was late turning up at North Road Station and missed the train, by a couple of minutes. I was informed that there was a Southern Rail train leaving for Exeter in 3 minutes time. I caught this train and expected to make contact with my friends possibly before they reached the football ground or maybe inside the football ground. What I was surprised with, is that the train left in a direction from the station, as though it was going to Cornwall (i.e. the opposite direction from Exeter). If my memory serves me correctly I think we travelled on a line that passed under the Tamar bridges. I cannot remember the stations I passed through and I do no know if my friend¿s train was delayed at all. But what really surprised me was that I met my friends as they were leaving the station at Exeter.”
by jockmcspredder, plymouth
Monday, February 22 2010, 8:49PM
“Hang on a minute. Trains having to reverse at Exeter?? So you're on the express from Penzance to London via Plymouth, Tavistock and Okehampton and have to CHANGE at Exeter??
On global warming and the greater incidence of snow, wasn't a train stuck for several days around Sourton in 1947(ish) OK, so we have helicopters to rescue people now..... Then once you get past Exeter you find yourself on a bus from Tiverton.... There are other things which need sorting first.”