Campaign launched to bring CrossCountry services to Ivybridge

Plans to lengthen platforms at Ivybridge Railway Station have moved a step closer as local groups join forces to secure the future of the town’s transport links.

A feasibility study is set to begin within weeks to determine if the station's platforms can be extended to accommodate CrossCountry trains, which currently bypass the town due to safety constraints.

The project is the result of a joint effort by the Ivybridge Rail Users Group (IRUG), Ivybridge Town Council (ITC), and the PL21 Transition Initiative, who are campaigning to improve both service frequency and station facilities.

Currently, Ivybridge is served by Great Western Railway (GWR), but CrossCountry trains, which provide vital long-distance links, cannot stop because their 120m-long trains exceed the station’s 104m platforms.

Unlike GWR rolling stock, CrossCountry trains lack "selective door opening" technology, meaning all doors must be aligned with a platform for a stop to be permitted.

The campaign gained momentum in January 2025 following intervention from local MP Rebecca Smith. After CrossCountry confirmed the technical limitations, IRUG identified that raising the 10m ramps at either end of the existing platforms could provide the necessary length.

Following a site meeting with Network Rail, it was determined that a formal technical feasibility study was required.

Ivybridge Town Council and IRUG successfully lobbied South Hams District Council (SHDC) to provide £20,000 in funding for the study, which is now scheduled to commence shortly.

The groups argue that the upgrade is essential for a "catchment area" that has grown to over 60,000 people, encompassing Sherford, Plympton, Plymstock, and areas to the east.

"Many rail users find that the current service frequency does not enable them to plan flexible

return journeys," the groups stated, noting that many residents currently drive to Totnes or Newton Abbot to catch trains because of gaps in the Ivybridge timetable.

The push for better rail links is part of a wider Integrated Transport Plan adopted by ITC and SHDC. PL21 and the Town Council are aiming to reduce car dependency and address climate change by making public transport a more viable option for the thousands of new residents in the area.

Projections suggest that with improved services, passenger numbers at Ivybridge could triple to over 300,000 per year.

To manage this growth, the groups are now calling for better integration with local bus services. Ivybridge Town Council has expressed a desire to see a dedicated Bus Users Group established to ensure the station's large free car park does not become overwhelmed.