The North Devon railway is facing a critical reckoning, as a combination of infrastructure failures, climate-driven disruption, and a surge in passenger demand leaves the region increasingly cut off from the national network.<\/p>\n
At the third annual convention of the Northern Devon Railway Development Alliance (NDRDA) on Friday, March 5 in Eggesford, industry experts, local councillors, and passenger groups gathered to face a stark reality: the era of “patch and mend” solutions for the Tarka Line is over.<\/p>\n
The route, which has seen a 400 per cent increase in passenger numbers since 2020, is currently grappling with a “success story” that its Victorian-era infrastructure can no longer sustain.<\/p>\n
Ian Roome, the MP for North Devon, painted a bleak picture of the impact on his constituents. He noted that the vulnerability of the Barnstaple-to-Exeter route now impacts an area he described as “twice the size of Luxembourg.”<\/p>\n
“Daily lives have been turned upside down from the sudden halt in train services,” Mr Roome told the delegates, citing a recent 3,000-signature petition he presented to Parliament.<\/p>\n
“Students have missed days or weeks of education; commuters cannot get to work. The road network in Devon was not built with this size in mind for replacement buses.”<\/p>\n
The economic consequences extend beyond the classroom.<\/p>\n
In a statement read to the convention, Steve Race, the MP for Exeter, warned that the regularity of storms has turned into an “annual occurrence,” creating a “tangible impact” on the local economy.<\/p>\n
“People are unable to travel, and businesses feel a real impact on trading,” Mr Race noted, confirming he will meet with the Secretary of State for Transport next week to prioritise the line.<\/p>\n
Cllr Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin, Cabinet Member for Rural Affairs, echoed this frustration. “We must ensure our rural communities can access it through better bus links, parking and increased capacity,” she argued.<\/p>\n
She emphasised that communities north of Exeter require a “reliable, modern, and well-connected rail service” for everyone from students and workers to patients and NHS staff.<\/p>\n
While GWR Managing Director Mark Hopwood CBE did not attend, his message acknowledged the “mounting frustration,” confirming that GWR is “working closely with Network Rail to build a robust railway for the future.”<\/p>\n
For the full report, pick up the North Devon Gazette this Wednesday, March 11, available in all shops across North Devon.<\/p>\n
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