North Devon rail passengers face rising fares

North Devon’s MP, Ian Roome, has called for a freeze on rail fares following a 4.6 per cent increase last weekend. 

He explained that the cost of an annual season ticket from Barnstaple to Exeter is now £2,724. This follows fare rises of 3.8 per cent in 2022, 5.9 per cent in 2023, and 4.9 per cent in 2024.

Mr Roome has previously raised concerns about the North Devon Line, citing infrastructure limitations and overcrowding, particularly during peak hours when many college students and professionals rely on the service. 

Last year, he wrote to the Rail Minister urging improvements to the Barnstaple to Exeter route to meet increasing demand.

Liberal Democrat MP for North Devon, Ian Roome, said: “We have already been struggling with overcrowding, infrastructure problems, cancellations, and the infrequency of our local trains from Barnstaple – now passengers in North Devon are being hammered by rising ticket prices.”

“I have already been contacted by numerous constituents regarding these fare increases, with some expressing concerns that they will now have to find alternatives to frequent rail travel. Residents of North Devon rely heavily on the line to access employment and education, so these increases will have a big impact.”

“Increasing rail fares while claiming to support green policies exposes the Labour government’s failure to incentivise change. If they were serious about encouraging greener transport, they would be making train travel more affordable and accessible, not pricing people off the rails.”

“We must now freeze fares to stop passengers from having to pay more for a service that is not delivering.”