Rail News: Exeter to Plymouth Railway

Calls to reopen the line (again)

Its an old story that pops up every now and again... COUNTRYSIDE campaigners have called for a feasibility study to be carried out into reopening the former Southern Railway line from Exeter to Plymouth. Much of the route – through Okehampton and Tavistock – was closed in the 1960s leaving only one main line from Exeter to Plymouth and Cornwall. However, both ends – from Exeter to Meldon and Plymouth to Bere Alston – are currently operated as branch lines. Plans to reopen another part of the line from Plymouth and Tavistock – linked to a proposed 750-home development – could see it running again by 2014. The Devon Branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) is now proposing a study be commissioned into reopening the full length of the former main line. When reviving the route has been discussed in the past, commentators have said it would be much cheaper than other alternatives as the engineering work is already done. Mr Hartley said much of the track-bed was still intact as were important viaducts, tunnels and embankments, although there were now a few properties standing on the line. However, sceptics point out the route would be slow and could struggle financially because it would pass through sparsely populated areas. This is Plymouth I don't really need to say much more about this as I think it highly unlikely to happen, at least in the foreseeable future. I wish it could... Image from Phil Beard (Creative commons) An eight arch viaduct crosses the town. It carried the railway that connected Plymouth with Exeter and Waterloo. Construction was completed in 1889 and the track was in use from 1890 to 1968. More of Phils photos here

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