From the First Great Western press release:
New timetable means earlier and more frequent services for Devon and Cornwall
The Department for Transport has today agreed to the first significant redesign of First Great Western^s mainline timetable in Devon and Cornwall for over a decade.
The changes will see an improved service for the South West, providing an earlier morning direct service from London to Plymouth and Cornwall, getting to key destinations beyond Totnes 40 minutes earlier than today.
Answering the calls of local business, the proposals will deliver a much improved service for the region, supporting the generation of economic growth through improved connectivity between major centres.
Key improvements include:
^ The 0706 Paddington to Paignton service will now instead run to Plymouth and Penzance, arriving 40 minutes earlier at key stations from Totnes and beyond than the current first direct service from London. The 0730 Paddington to Penzance service will now instead run to Paignton.
^ Faster mid-morning service between Paddington and Plymouth
^ Improved connections between Paddington and Torbay
^ Faster return service between Paignton and London
Subject to approval by Network Rail, the new timetable will operate from December this year.
Benefits by region
South Devon (inc. Torbay)
The number of direct services from London to Torbay is unchanged, with the 0730 service now running to Paignton.
The new connection out of 0706 Paddington ^ Penzance, means that there is an increase in journey opportunities to Torbay and present connectivity is retained.
The early service from London (0706) now involves a change of trains at Newton Abbot to get to Paignton, but with no material effect on the journey time.
One additional service from Newton Abbot to Paignton (10.00) and from Paignton (10.34), thereby increasing frequency further on this route
To allow this package of improvements to happen, an afternoon Totnes call in a High Speed Train service to London will be removed, but a connecting service will be provided.
Additional direct journey opportunity from Swindon / Chippenham / Bath / Bristol to Torbay area
First service from London to Totnes is 40+min earlier than now (10.08)
Late morning service to London (currently 1106 Paignton) becomes approx. 20min faster
Exeter & East Devon
Lunchtime service to London (was 11.52, becomes 12.14), approx. 20min faster
New late morning (11.33) service from London to Exeter (arrive 14.03). This service also provides journey opportunities from Westbury and Newbury
New mid-afternoon service from Exeter (1453) and Tiverton (1508) to London, also giving connections along the route at Westbury
