GWR adds buses to Tarka Line to cope with Exeter College student surge
GWR has introduced additional coaches on the Tarka Line to cater for a surge in student passengers after term started at Exeter College, with the operator saying it cannot run more trains due to capacity constraints.
Rail operators say they are having to run buses as well as trains to cater for a surge in student passengers on the Tarka Line after term started at Exeter College.
GWR bosses have responded to claims that some students forced to use buses were arriving late for lessons, with some left behind entirely.
A spokesperson for GWR said: "With Exeter College's popularity and many students travelling at the same time just for the start of term, demand on this service exceeds capacity. To help, we've got additional coaches on standby for the first few weeks of September, providing students with more space and a direct journey timed to get them to college, while also freeing up capacity for customers travelling further along the route where we can't offer a direct, quick bus route."
The spokesperson added: "We're sorry if this wasn't the experience for some pupils on Tuesday. Customers looking for more space and comfort can also use services before or after this train, where there is plenty of space for those able to travel more flexibly."
The Gazette understands GWR disputes any suggestion that passengers have been left behind, or that trains or supporting buses have run late, beyond what it described as one unverified complaint on the first day, which it put down to customers still getting used to how busy the service has become.
It is understood the issue stems from the start-of-term timetable, with Exeter College requiring all students to be in by 9am for the first few weeks for enrolment and to receive their timetables for the year, meaning large numbers are trying to travel on a single train at the same time.
According to GWR, carrying all Exeter College students on that single service would require a nine-carriage train, a capacity the branch line cannot support. The operator explained that adding extra train services is impossible because the line is at full capacity, while longer trains cannot be used due to short platform lengths.
Standard high-speed GWR Intercity Express Trains (IET), the British Rail Class 800 and Class 802 bi-mode units that run on main lines, simply cannot serve these short-platform rural stops.
As a temporary fix for the peak morning rush, GWR has introduced supplementary bus coaches to prevent students from being left behind.