Boost for Bideford rail plan
A GRANT of £6500 from Great Western Railway’s Community Fund has been awarded to develop the case for reinstatement of a rail link between Barnstaple and Bideford in Devon. Supported by Railfuture, which has also given advice and financial support, the Tarka Rail Association (TRA), is developing proposals for Exeter-Barnstaple ‘Tarka Line’ services to be extended to serve Bideford, which has a population over 30,000. TRA is also aiming for the line to be served by additional limitedstop services giving a journey time of 60 minutes between Bideford and Exeter Central.
Regular passenger trains between Barnstaple and Bideford ceased in October 1965, but the nine-mile route remained in situ for another 20 years, being used into the 1980s for china clay traffic. The station has since been preserved as the Bideford Railway Heritage Centre.
Public support
TRA chairman Mike Day said: “We’re 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 Coast-Exeter 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,” he added.