North Devon rail: Infrastructure failure hitting an area 'twice the size of Luxembourg'

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.

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.

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.

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."

"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.

"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."

The economic consequences extend beyond the classroom.

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.

"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.

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.

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.

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."

For the full report, pick up the North Devon Gazette this Wednesday, March 11, available in all shops across North Devon.