MORE people than ever are travelling on the Tarka Line, the rail link between Barnstaple and Exeter - a line that remained open all through the recent snows that caused so many problems with closed roads in Mid and North Devon

Mr John Phillips, chairman Tarka Rail Association, praised railway staff for keeping the line open during the snow. "This was the only link to North Devon, roads were hazardous. Staff were getting out at 5.30am to get the train ready, this line kept North Devon going," he said.

Use of the Tarka Line has increased year on year since 2001 with 347,000 passengers in 2008, 74 per cent up on seven years ago

Devon County Council's Exe Rail Working Group toured the line, praised as "very friendly", last week, looking at the developments taking place and planned on the line.

A solution to low platforms at Copplestone and Newton St Cyres was under development.

The platform at these two stations is very low and it was hoped the Harrington Hump, a glass reinforced plastic hump on trial at Harrington Station in Cumbria, could be used.

Crediton is the second busiest station on the line after Barnstaple and Mr Phillips said the Station Tea Rooms was "probably one of the finest examples of an alternative use for a station building, an idea that has been widely followed throughout the country and which has won several awards."

It was unfortunate that when planning permission had been given for housing development Copplestone Station had seemed to have been ignored and no provision made for more car parking at that station.

Use of Morchard Road station had grown since the hourly service began. It was hoped to increase the size of that car park.

Eggesford was the third busiest station on the line and there were plans for improvements, especially for access for people with disabilities. It was hoped to improve the access to Umberleigh station and with more parking spaces

Other improvements for the line will include a low-level ticket window at Barnstaple, one of the first in Devon.

Cllr Nick Way, committee chairman, spoke of the "transformation" of Crediton Station and along the line over the years, much of the work, especially at Crediton, done by volunteers. The Friends of Crediton Station were very active, making the station (never mind the Tea Rooms) worth visiting.

Cllr Mrs Margaret Rogers said the Tarka was "such a friendly line", staff were "brilliant".