THE Tarka Rail Association has welcomed recent investment in the line that has resulted in a further increase in line speed for the benefit of passengers.
The Association also particularly welcomes the news that Network Rail has been continuing its investment in the route during recent weeks with the renewal of a life-expired bridge between Yeoford and Copplestone.
Renewal of this bridge has enabled the removal of a long-term speed restriction so that trains can now run at 70mph for another half-mile of the route, taking full advantage of previous investment in new track.
Mike Day, Chair of the TRA said: “We warmly welcome this continuing investment in the Tarka Line and the new increase in speed which will be of great benefit to the reliability of the route.
“We look forward to further investment in track renewals and crossings that will assist with our strategic aim of reducing journey times between Barnstaple and Exeter to an hour or less.
“It has been encouraging to see Great Western Railway maintain its regular hourly service on the line and to be able to welcome passengers back with this further improvement.”
The TRA is one of the oldest and most successful Rail User Groups, working with local authorities, rail operators, Network Rail and the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership to secure improvements to stations and services.
Huge growth has taken place on the route: the base of 200,000 passenger journeys a year in 2001 had grown to 680,000 a year prior to the Covid Pandemic, representing growth of 241 per cent, well above the national average, with further train service, rolling stock and infrastructure improvements planned.