Bideford rail link gains support in 15-year North Devon transport strategy

A new long-term transport strategy for Devon and Torbay has been welcomed by campaigners pushing for rail improvements in North Devon.

The Local Transport Plan for 2025 to 2040 was officially adopted on Monday 28 July by the board of the recently-established County Combined Authority, which will become the region’s new transport authority from April 2026.

The 15-year plan sets out a roadmap for transformational changes across all modes of transport, including road, rail, cycling and public transport infrastructure.

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Among those supporting the plan is Railfuture, a national organisation campaigning for better rail services, whose Devon and Cornwall regional branch helped to initiate the Northern Devon Railway Development Alliance in late 2023.

Tim Steer, newly elected Chair of the regional Railfuture branch, described the plan’s adoption as a pivotal step for transport campaigners.

ABOVE: Tim Steer holding a Bideford rail sign. Credit: Ian Brown CBE

“This is a vitally necessary point of reference for all those campaigning for sustainable transport improvements,” he said. 

“It’s also a very satisfying reward for our constructive, sometimes challenging, engagement in the preparatory consultation process to which we contributed, with data-driven evidence in support of our case.”

Roger Blake, Railfuture’s national Board Director for Infrastructure and Networks and Acting Convener of the Alliance, echoed the endorsement. 

The Alliance includes more than two dozen partners and stakeholders across the region.

“This completes the twin building blocks of regional transport planning for years to come, following the adoption in March by Peninsula Transport of their Strategic Implementation Plan 2025–50,” he said.

“Both plans include favourable references in particular to the pressing need for the modernisation and extension – to Bideford – of North Devon Line passenger train services.”

Mr Blake added: “We must continue to drive the expansion of sustainable transport capacity, connectivity and choice to address the challenges of congestion, car-dependency and carbon emissions, and the Alliance will continue to champion those causes for Northern Devon.”

The Local Transport Plan will act as a guiding document for investment and decision-making across the region as authorities work to improve mobility, reduce emissions, and support economic growth through a more integrated transport network.