Future-Proof the Tarka Line!
Back Our Campaign
Reliable Rail Travel for All
Due to heavy rain in November 2025, flooding forced three bridges on the Tarka Line (Nymet, Popes and Scoop) to be closed for inspection - stopping all trains between Barnstaple and Exeter.
This follows overcrowding and record passenger numbers in North Devon exceeding 800,000 journeys each year.
We need to make rail travel from North Devon to Exeter more resilient and reliable - back our campaign today!
We the undersigned:
- Believe the Tarka Line between Barnstaple and Exeter needs structural improvements;
- Call attention to persistent overcrowding and the need for additional train carriages from the operator (GWR);
- Note precautionary bridge closures due to flooding, service disruption and the need for additional drainage works on the branch line;
- Observe that North Devon receives an average rainfall of 115mm in December while suffering a shortage of public transport options;
- Highlight short platforms at smaller stations, the ongoing use of the token system, and the lack of passing places along the single-track line that hinders an improved train timetable, while Network Rail's annual capital investment across the UK now exceeds £6.7bn.
We call on Network Rail and Great Western Rail to prioritise the Tarka Line for improvements, and to work together to make rail travel in North Devon more resilient.
Future-Proof The Tarka Line!