Work underway on new halt for Seaton Tramway

Devon line’s fifth tram stop will give visitors access to marshland nature reserves.

HAVING been put on hold due to Covid-19 lockdowns and nesting swans, construction of a new halt at Seaton Wetlands on the Seaton Tramway in East Devon is finally underway.

The project, funded by the tramway with support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, will give passengers access to the marshland and reedbeds alongside the River Axe, which support a wide variety of birds and other rare and important flora and fauna.

After around a month of clearing the way across Colyford Common to create access, September saw machinery onsite and the laying of sleepers to form a decked walkway to the track at Swan’s Nest Loop.

Construction

As the walkway also forms access for the construction of the halt, contractors have been working from the outside in, towards the line. By early October, it was inching closer to the site of the halt and stone gabions were in place in readiness for the construction of a pedestrian bridge.

In order to avoid disturbance to the wildlife and grazing cattle during the 12-week construction period, work is being carried out in close cooperation with staff from Seaton Wetlands.

The new halt, which will open for the 2022 season, adds a fifth stop to the three-mile line.

SEATON TRAMWAY Seaton Tramway No. 8 is pictured at Swan’s Nest Loop, the location of the new Seaton Wetlands halt which will open to visitors next year. Work on the walkway to the site can be seen progressing in the background.