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From the Express & Echo

COUNCILLOR Tony Wardle's comments on the lack of rail initiatives in Exeter are amusing to hear, especially since his party has never had the courage to renationalise the railways ^ one move that would solve all his problems, How are we supposed to move about in already congested city? Letters, November 24.

However, all the major parties are at fault in not recognising that rail has to be central to any planning decisions, and being far too focused on the so-called needs of motorists and the road transport lobby.

Looking at it in hindsight, very few of the Devon railways torn out between 1958 and 1975 should ever have been lost. However, it is a line never built, and rarely considered, that I need to bring to his attention.

It has often been my opinion that if a rail link was made between the line to Dawlish and the line to Exmouth, the city would have a circular, over-ground railway ^ an over-ground Metro, that would link up all parts of the city.

This link line would leave the Dawlish line just past Marsh Barton, cross Ludwell Valley Park and Pynes Hill, and join the Exmouth line south of the station at Digby and Sowton.

New halts at Marsh Barton, Burnthouse Lane, Pynes Hill, Whipton, and Prince Charles Road would enable Exeter citizens to travel to any part of the city by rail.

Has this idea ever been considered? Isn't it time for an Exeter Metro?

Most of the traffic using the trains from Dawlish (and before) wants to travel to Exeter Central!

The trains empty out there (from Paignton etc), and then fill up with passengers to Exmouth

 ??? ???

Aah yes, renationalization, a magic wand that would solve all problems in the railway industry at a stroke and take us back to the days when British Rail was the envy of the world.

Oh, hang on, those days never happened. I may have been a callow early teenager when the railways were privatized, but even I remember well that BR was something of a national joke!

Here is the link to the original letter from Councillor Tony Wardle: http://www.thisisexeter.co.uk/news/supposed-congested-city/article-1537858-detail/article.html (http://www.thisisexeter.co.uk/news/supposed-congested-city/article-1537858-detail/article.html)
So it's all Network Rail's fault! Nothing to do with Mr Wardle and his mates on Exeter City Council singularly failing to make sure that the original provisions of the Exeter Local Plan, which included the building of a new rail station at Newcourt as a pre-requisite of planning permission being granted, were pushed through.

Tut, tut ! you'll be saying you don't believe in man made global warming next    :o

 ;D

Don't worry, I'm not a Daily Mail reader!

A Metro reader then?  :D