Devon County Council starts Barnstaple railway station upgrade

Improvement works at Barnstaple railway station are due to begin on September 14, aimed at making it easier and safer for passengers to switch between buses and trains.

Devon County Council is delivering the Barnstaple Railway Station Bus Integration Enhancements scheme, designed to create what the council describes as a more welcoming and accessible transport interchange while improving connections between public transport services.

The scheme will increase bus stop capacity and relocate bus stops to improve connections with rail services. It will also make it easier and safer for people to move around the station, with wider footways outside the station entrance and safer crossing points for pedestrians and cyclists.

Further improvements include new and upgraded bus waiting facilities, real-time passenger information displays and new cycle parking. Changes will also be made to the road layout to simplify vehicle movements and improve safety.

Rail and bus services will continue to operate throughout the construction period, and no roads will be closed as part of the scheme. Temporary traffic management will be needed at certain stages of the works while changes are made to the road layout, and construction information will be communicated in advance as the project progresses. Part of the station car park will be used as a site office and compound, leading to a small reduction in the number of parking spaces available to customers during the works.

The scheme is being funded through the Government-backed Bus Service Improvement Plan programme, supporting wider efforts to encourage sustainable travel across northern Devon. Funding for cycle parking and works to the station entrances is being provided separately by Great Western Railway. The project has been developed in partnership with Great Western Railway, Network Rail and other stakeholders to improve integration between transport services at the station.

Councillor Jacqi Hodgson, Devon County Council cabinet member for climate change, environment and transport and leader of the Green and Independent group, said: "This scheme will make it easier for people to switch between bus and rail services, helping passengers complete their journeys more smoothly and comfortably."

She added that the improvements would "create a safer, more accessible station environment with better facilities for passengers, while supporting our wider ambition to make public transport a more attractive choice for everyday travel." Councillor Hodgson said people would still be able to use the station and transport services while the work was carried out, adding: "We are working hard to keep disruption to a minimum."

GWR regional development manager (West) David Whiteway said: "Barnstaple station is a key gateway to northern Devon and these improvements will make a real difference for customers travelling by train and bus." He said better interchange facilities, improved accessibility and clearer information would "help create a smoother journey experience from start to finish," adding that GWR looked forward to continuing to work with Devon County Council and partners to deliver the benefits for passengers.

Councillor Caroline Leaver, local member for Barnstaple South, said the station was "an important and busy hub for people travelling to, from and around North Devon", used for more than a million journeys each year. She said the project would "make journeys simpler, safer and more accessible for residents and visitors alike", adding that it was about making it easier for people to make positive choices about how to get around, whether wheeling or walking.

Councillor Frank Biederman, local member for Fremington Rural, said many people travelling from villages across northern Devon relied on Barnstaple station to connect with work, education and leisure opportunities. He said the investment would "improve the experience for passengers and help encourage more people to choose public transport for their journeys."