AN overwhelming increase in passenger use on the North Devon (Tarka) line and the urgent need for the modernising and extending of the line and its train services was highlighted at the third annual convention of the Northern Devon Railway Development Alliance.

Many speakers addressed the 60-plus people who attended the event at Eggesford, where they heard there had been a 400 per cent increase in passenger numbers on the line since 2020, one which needs investment, especially since being hit by severe weather disruption.

The MP for North Devon, Ian Roome, talked about the vulnerability of the line, recent impact on users, especially students and commuters and talked about his petition he presented to Parliament.

Exeter MP Steve Race was unable to attend but sent a statement.

He mentioned the recent storms and their impact resulting in people unable to travel, seriously affecting businesses.

He said he was meeting with the Secretary of State for Transport to prioritise the line.

Tim Steer, Railfuture, Devon and Cornwall regional branch chair, said following the meeting: "No one would had believed that in recent years that the North Devon (Tarka) line would be a victim of its own success - a line that was once viewed in the latter half of the 20th century for managed decline!

“The line service has seen rapid user growth and the usage data gives confirmation on why the line needs modernising and extending.

“The NDRDA 3rd annual meeting was a tremendous opportunity for the new and existing stakeholders to hear from the rail industry, the service provider, the independent advisor to the NDRDA and senior strategic transport authorities about how we address the well-known overcrowding and weather resilience situation on the service and to progress towards a formal Business Case that can be presented to central government for service enhancement.

“Railfuture support GWR in their efforts to find longer trains to deal with peak time customer capacity at Barnstaple and at Exeter's stations.”