by Alan Quick

GREAT Western Rail (GWR) has announced plans to introduce an early morning train service from Crediton, leaving the station at 7.07am.

This will enable, for the first time, local passengers to catch early morning connecting services to London, Bristol and Plymouth.

The earliest train currently leaves at 7.55am.

Devon County Councillor Nick Way (Crediton Rural) has worked with rail groups and campaigned for this service for many years.

He said: “This is terrific news for all those needing to be in Exeter at their work place by 8am.

“It also means passengers and commuters will be able to catch connecting trains, including the Golden Hind service to Paddington, allowing them to park their cars in Crediton’s station free park and ride car park thus saving expensive parking charges at Exeter or Tiverton Parkway.

“It also means fewer passengers standing on the next service at 7.55am.

This increased train travel will reduce pollution and hold ups along the busy A377.”

The train operator is confident the new service will be approved by the regulator and be in place by January 2018. Timetable will be as follows:

Crediton - (New service) 7.07am (Current service) 7.55am

St David’s - 7.18am, 8.07am

Central - 7.30am, 8.12am

Plymouth - 8.33am, 9.19am

Bristol - 8.27am, 9.26am

Paddington - 10.02am, 11.24am.

Plans were unveiled by GWR at the meeting of Exeter and Devon Rail Working Party at County Hall, Exeter, on Friday, February 17.