Grant aid boost for Bideford reinstatement proposal
A PROPOSAL to extend the Tarka Line from Barnstaple to Bideford has been boosted by a £6500 grant from Great Western Railway’s Community Fund which was launched in May.
The Atlantic Coast-Exeter Railway project, ACE Rail, aims to extend the Tarka Line to serve Bideford’s 30,000 population, while avoiding the popular Tarka Trail long-distance footpath and cyclepath on the original LSWR trackbed.
It also hopes to improve existing service by adding a second, limitedstop, hourly train to link Bideford with Exeter Central in 60 minutes.
Tarka Rail Association chairman Mike Day said: “We are extremely grateful for this funding from Great Western Railway, which has helped us to engage an independent specialist advisor to produce an initial business case for the Atlantic CoastExeter Railway, the association’s ACE Rail campaign, reporting by next March.
“We have developed a strong base of stakeholder and public support to drive forward a shared ambition to transform the prospects for Devon’s largest community without its own rail service since 1965.”
However, campaign group OkeRail’s chairman, Dr Michael Ireland, said the next local revivalist target would be getting the Tavistock to Plymouth link reinstated. The business case for the proposal has been submitted Devon County Council.
Meanwhile, Cornwall Heritage Trust has received a £10,105 grant from the Community Fund to connect local communities in Luxulyan on the Par to Newquay line with their unique industrial heritage.
The project will focus on the history and heritage of Treffry Viaduct, a Scheduled Ancient Monument and part of the UNESCO Cornish Mining World Heritage Site and the Luxulyan valley. It will involve local people by collating their views and connections to the viaduct and the valley, producing a film about its history with expert John Smith, path clearances to improve the area, a guided walk around the site, and a special talk to offer people the chance to celebrate their heritage together.