Great Western Coffee Shop

Looking at it, unless its been painted recently - just looks like a copy of the main platforms white line

reinstate the second track along its whole length

Richie, 

As a close watcher of the scene, I can tell you FGW never promised Barnstaple - Paddington HSTs.  If Wessex Trains had been allowed to absorb the Waterloo - Exeter line, they promised Waterloo - Barnstaple Cl 159s, but it was decided to go for the franchise we have today instead. 

Removing the Waterloo - Exeter line from South West Trains was the sticking point.  That proposal was very unpopular along that route.

The white line on Platform 2 is a small, pretty inexpensive safety measure.  It's not "elf n safe tea" gone mad"!  Some hope that Platform 2 may be back in use one day.  Who knows, one day they might be right.

Richard Burningham
Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership

You can't 'reinstate' something that never existed - although all the bridges along the line were built for double track it was mostly single track - the only doubled sections were between Barnstaple and Umberleigh, and from Coleford Junction to Cowley Bridge.

Blimey charlie, keep your hat on!!!

OK, simple syntax error there. I am aware that the line wasn't dual track along its whole length, though I believe that it was further north than Cowley Bridge but hey ho! I also know that the infrastructure was set up for dual track at some point during the 20s I believe, but that this was never provided.

I am aware that the line wasn't dual track along its whole length, though I believe that it was further north than Cowley Bridge

You can't 'reinstate' something that never existed - although all the bridges along the line were built for double track it was mostly single track - the only doubled sections were between Barnstaple and Umberleigh, and from Coleford Junction to Cowley Bridge.

Barnstaple railway station has been awarded first place in the best kept station category as part of the Tarka Line Flowers Competition.

The competition, which rewards the efforts of volunteers who tend to stations along the Tarka line, is organised by the Tarka Rail Association and is funded partly by sponsorship from First Great Western.

Volunteer Janet Day picked up the award for her floral displays at Barnstaple station while Andy Hedges picked up the best wildlife conservation award for his work at Umberleigh station.

His restoration of the old concrete Umberleigh station sign and an outstanding display of roses helped him to win the accolade.

John Phillips, chairman of the Tarka Rail Association, said: "I should like to thank all those who give up their free time to make our stations attractive for passengers who I know very much appreciate the efforts made."

BARNSTAPLE STATION WINS INTERNATIONAL AWARD

Barnstaple Station has been awarded Best Small International Station at the Translink International Station Awards in Cork, Ireland. 

The competition rewards the effort and commitment of railway stations who have worked hard to provide excellent passenger facilities and customer service.

Judges marked each station entry on key criteria including: appearance, facilities, transport links and customer focus as well as looking for evidence of staff commitment and pride in service delivery.

Barnstaple station is part of the picturesque Tarka Line, which runs from Exeter to Barnstaple, a route covered by the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership. The Partnership, working with First Great Western and volunteers from the Tarka Line Association, have worked hard over the years to improve facilities at the station and promote the line in general. Passenger journeys have risen from 47% from April 2007 to April 2011.

The station is the starting point for the scenic Tarka Trail cycle path. Cycles are available to hire as part of support for promoting tourist visits.

First Great Western Area Manager David Crome said:

^This award is validation for the amazing work accomplished by Station manager Melanie Harvey and her hard working staff. I^d also like to thank the local volunteers, Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership, Tarka Rail Association and Network Rail for all their contributions to improving Barnstaple Station. ^

Richard Burningham, Manager of the Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership said:

^I am delighted that Barnstaple has won this prestigious award. The development at the station is down to a lot of hard work by a lot of people and would not have been possible without the support of local volunteers, Devon County Council, the Tarka Rail Association and staff from First Great Western and Network Rail.^

Tarka Rail Association Chairman John Burch said:

^Barnstaple station now gains International acknowledgement for its position at the far end of a railway line that has been growing in strategic importance for some time! The Tarka Line will soon cross the 500,000 passengers a year threshold.

^That is in no small part due to the work of the great team at Barnstaple where our own Mike Day has done fantastic work to provide a superb facility for customers and was in Cork as part of the team who received the award. We look forward to welcoming further new visitors to the line now that this award has further broadened awareness of the line and Barnstaple^s position as gateway to North Devon.^

Partnership project highlights wealth of station walks

(http://www.devon24.co.uk/polopoly_fs/swcp_launch_barnstaple_250512_004_for_nd_gazette_1_1392900!image/1801067527.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_490/1801067527.jpg)
From left: Mike Day from the Station Master^s Caf^, John Slater from the South West Coast Path Team and Matt Edworthy Devon County Council launch the new map boards on Friday.

Two new map boards have been unveiled to encourage people to take the train to Barnstaple and walk the Tarka Trail and South West Coast Path.

The boards, launched on Friday, show the variety of walks which can be accessed from Barnstaple railway station.

One is situated outside the Station Master^s Caf^ and the second is on a key junction close to where several paths meet. A third is planned for the front of the station.

The rail tourism project is the result of collaboration between the South West Coast Path team, Devon County Council and the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership.

The Tarka Trail Cycle Hire and the Station Master^s Caf^, both based at the station, are also involved in the initiative.

In Cornwall, similar map boards have been installed at Looe and Penzance stations but Barnstaple is the first Devon station to be involved.

Mike Day, from the Station Master^s Caf^, said ^The South West Coast Path is a vital national asset and we are very happy to support it. Barnstaple railway station forms a key gateway into North Devon and the train offers an environmentally sustainable way of accessing the South West Coast Path from around the UK. Once here, people can explore the path by foot or certain sections by cycle from the cycle hire here at the station.^

'Costa will kill my caf^' claims manager of Barnstaple's train station caf^

The manager of the Station Caf^, at Barnstaple railway station, says plans for a Costa Coffee nearby seem designed purely to put pressure on his business.

Mike Day says the plans, which were submitted to North Devon Council a month ago, will have a big impact on his business if they are approved.

(http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/images/localworld/ugc-images/275779/Article/images/18736434/4769132.jpg)
WORRIED: Caf^ manager Mike Day with a customer. Picture: Gemma Varney

If approved the plans will see a branch of Costa open in the former Calor Gas showroom on Barnstaple's Seven Brethren industrial estate, just a few hundred yards from the railway station. Mr Day says that seems unfair.

He said: "There isn't enough trade for two cafes. I think they will be targeting our customers and I suspect they want the station house building. The application just doesn't make sense. One of the justifications given is it will bring a redundant building back into use ^ but they will only be using 10 per cent of it."

He fears another branch of Costa in the town ^ there is already one on Barnstaple High Street ^ would kill local business. He said: "Companies like Costa can go in anywhere. They are worse than supermarkets because at least supermarkets need a large plot of land and development. All the money they make is sucked out of the area. We pay local people and spend money with local businesses."

Costa said it did not think its new premises, which it hopes to open next month, will be a threat to any existing local traders. A spokesman for the company said: "We honestly do not think anyone should see Costa as a threat to independent businesses. Coffee shops are popular meeting hubs for people and bring substantial benefits to surrounding businesses, bringing people into town centres and spending money in the local area. We think people like to have a choice. Our offering is very different to local independent coffee shops and we believe that people can and will use both, depending on their needs."

Mr Day has objected to the plans, as have more than 70 other people. "People's reactions have been interesting," he said. "Even people who have never used us before have been coming in to ask us how they can object."

A petition of around 200 signatures against the plan has also been collected.

The plan is still open to consultation at www.northdevon.gov.uk

From the North Devon Journal (http://www.thisisnorthdevon.co.uk/story-18736434-detail/story.html?#axzz2R6aU7fKP):

He said: "Companies like Costa can go in anywhere. They are worse than supermarkets because at least supermarkets need a large plot of land and development. All the money they make is sucked out of the area. We pay local people and spend money with local businesses."