Devon rail links -if the case can exist fine, if not, prioritise.

 Simon Barber has sent a report of last Saturday's Forum in Exeter (8th August) as follows:

"

Bere Alston-Tavistock-Okehampton: The Bere Alston to Tavistock section launched a petition last month from the volunteers of Tavy Rail (website https://tavyrail.2day.uk/) to re-open Tavistock initially.This will eventually go on Whats App facebook (www.Change.org); the chief supporter of the Tavy Rail project is Colin Coleman. Meanwhile Jonathan got a reply from the Dept.Transport to stop sending them repeated requests, and Devon County Council must complete business case without further delays.However Luke Pollard (MP Plymouth Sutton & Devonport) supports the case since there are more housing developments in or around Tavistock - Luke also supports the Plymouth Devonport Dockyard railway line which closed some 50 years ago.

Barnstaple-Bideford: Network Rail received a boost for £10,000 in conjunction with the Northern Devon Rail Development Partnership to improve the Exeter-Barnstaple Line (Tarka Line).  The Northern Devon Rail Development Partnership is also looking at extending the current Tarka line from Barnstaple back into Bideford, with a half-hourly service and other improvements to produce the economic benefits by 2040.  The proposal to re-establish the old railway line between Barnstaple and Bideford, although not necessarily a replica of the former route, would be a huge advantage for locals and tourists alike.

Barnstaple-Taunton: The original route via South Molton and Dulverton now seems unlikely. However, a west-to-north curve at Cowley Bridge Junction to connect the Tarka Line and the West of England Main Line is more feasible and a cheaper option, and this will connect the new Cullompton Station on the latter line.

Barnstaple-Ilfracombe: The line is built over at the centre of Braunton.

Okehampton-Bude/Launceston: This project is to detour Holsworthy. There should be a station at Lydford, which is close to the National Trust's Lydford Gorge. Cornwall County Council are looking into this, with tunnels/bridges needed. Meanwhile Ben Maguire (MP North Cornwall) will shortly be meeting Lord Hendy to discuss plans.

Teign Valley Railway: That line is still largely intact. Chudleigh Station is close to the A38 with a bridge over the line. The route would have run from Newton Abbot to Exeter St.Thomas.

Seaton: The Seaton branch is only 5 miles away from the South West Main Line at the former station of Seaton Junction, between Axminster and Honiton. The line could rejoin fields to access the Tramway stop as a modal shift to road to rail.

South West Main LIne (Exeter-Salisbury): That line should be double-tracked and also Chard Junction Station should be reopened. At the same time Cranbrook Station lies to the north of Exeter Airport and there should be a short rail link to connect the airport. Meanwhile the dry weather had caused the trackbed to become unstable due to soil moisture deficit."

CEO Response: Thanks for this report. You did not do the date of the next Forum, so new people can have a chance to attend? We need marketing officers to help generate more people to feed our forums and public meetings please.

On Taunton-Barnstaple:

In terms of Taunton-Barnstaple, the route needs protection with deviation lands, it needs studying to build the case and it needs wider support notionally, and then to accept 60 years after the main closures, blockages will have happened. But if the case is robust and the need agreed for the railway, it should take precedence and relocations, relocation packages and demolitions may be required in some cases as per elsewhere around the country.

Taunton to Barnstaple would:

1. Help revitalise and regenerate North Devon, there are pockets of poverty, deprivation and a lack of all-year-round jobs.

2. It would make #London-North Devon direct travel quicker and vice versa to #Bristol for further afield travel both ways.

3. It may generate more freight by rail, if the A361 has to be upgraded, there is obviously a case and a demand and surely the railway could lower that and offer a quicker transit end-to-end?

If you agree, please email your local MP: https://members.parliament.uk/members/commons?sort=1 and Join BRTA - every member helps make a difference: https://brtarail.com/become-a-member/

Details of next forums are to be put on out website events page - so keep it at hand!

We can all play our part. Working with BRTA, helps make that more real.

Bideford, Tavistock and links fine, keep at it, but apart from the South West Main Line which needs upgrading and investment, the other places you mention do need case making, studies, route protection and so have you registered us with Devon-based voluntary bureaus for more volunteers to study and build credible cases for these things? This is what every project needs, not a blank cheque prescription along the views of 'every railway line and station must be rebuilt' when credibly we need to qualify such views and accept compromise in some cases where more tracks for more trains if the case is substantiated, or a station if it will address growing developments and fit into a timetable. My advice is foster volunteers, do a repeat forum, marketing it widely and delegate roles to reliable new people and the model repeats x nationwide. 60 years after the main closures and their legacies, tough and pragmatic decisions will have to be taken, but going into Exeter and out to North Devon from the East is a time delay and makes roads more competitive if they are more direct. Let the railway network catch up!

Join BRTA! https://brtarail.com/southwest/