IN the last five years, the number of journeys made on the Tarka Line between Exeter and Barnstaple has increased by 11.8 per cent, says a report published by the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership (DCPR).

The report says that the number of journeys made on rural railway lines in Devon and Cornwall overall has increased by 65 per cent during that time.

DCRP said 1.5m journeys were made on the six branch lines in 2009.

The Newquay line was up 54.3 per cent, with an extra 23,306 journeys and the line between Truro and Falmouth had an extra 85,000 journeys, up 30.9 per cent.

The line between Liskeard and Looe had an 18.3 per cent increase in passengers and the Tamar Valley line between Gunnislake and Plymouth had a 12 per cent increase.

In Cornwall, the line between Liskeard and Looe had an 18.3 per cent increase and the line between St Ives and Penzance had a 15.4 per cent increase.

The DCRP put the rises down to better services and more awareness.

The Partnership called the increases "good news all round", but said it wanted to increase these numbers further during 2010.