Access to Lympstone Commando station

[whole diary]

[Southern Stag]

Moderator Note: This post and subsequent discussion has been split from this thread as the discussion was drifting from the original topic. bignosemac

The use of Lympstone Commando is limited to passengers who have business with the adjoining Royal Marines training base, so its use will be dependent entirely on the use of the base.

[JayMac]

Although anyone can buy a ticket to Lympstone Commando and alight there. You have to remain on the platform, which is Network Rail property, if you have no business at the Commando Training Centre. And it is advisable to contact the CTC Guard Room if you plan to alight and take photographs of the station and trains. Photography of the base itself is probably best avoided!

The above according to a reply given by the Royal Navy to a FoI request in June 2012.

[Southern Stag]

Although anyone can buy a ticket to Lympstone Commando and alight there. You have to remain on the platform, which is Network Rail property, if you have no business at the Commando Training Centre. And it is advisable to contact the CTC Guard Room if you plan to alight and take photographs of the station and trains. Photography of the base itself is probably best avoided!

The above according to a reply given by the Royal Navy to a FoI request in June 2012.

It is a little silly nowadays that members of the public can't use the station as it is actually now situated on a new cyclepath, which you have to cross to enter the base. Exton station is very nearby though.

https://ssl.panoramio.com/photo/36192307 shows it quite nicely.

[JayMac]

It is a little silly nowadays that members of the public can't use the station as it is actually now situated on a new cyclepath, which you have to cross to enter the base. Exton station is very nearby though.

I wasn't aware of the the Exe Estuary Trail. That rather changes my opinion that you can only stay on the platform. Looks like you can now alight and take to the path if you wish. Both are accessible to the public and you don't appear to trespass on MoD property to get between them. Looking at the planning consent it appears that the cycle path/footway is constructed on Network Rail land.

[Southern Stag]

Is the station gate locked though, I believe it used to be, so you may not actually be able to get off the platform.

[JayMac]

Good point. Hopping over, or lumping a bike over, said gate may not endear yourself to the gun-toting grunt on stag. 

[RichardB]

It is a little silly nowadays that members of the public can't use the station as it is actually now situated on a new cyclepath, which you have to cross to enter the base. Exton station is very nearby though.

I wasn't aware of the the Exe Estuary Trail. That rather changes my opinion that you can only stay on the platform. Looks like you can now alight and take to the path if you wish. Both are accessible to the public and you don't appear to trespass on MoD property to get between them. Looking at the planning consent it appears that the cycle path/footway is constructed on Network Rail land.

Lympstone Commando is still very much a private station, even though the cyclepath goes behind the platform.


Moderate note. Edited to fix quote. bignosemac

[JayMac]

Lympstone Commando is still very much a private station, even though the cyclepath goes behind the platform.

As I mentioned up thread, a Freedom of Information response from the Royal Navy stated that the station is owned by Network Rail and members of the public can access it, although it is recommended they contact the CTC Guard Room if they are planning on alighting and don't have business at the camp.

That still makes it private property, but then nearly all stations are. But they are private property to which the public has an implied right of access.

Quite interesting that you have a station which the Royal Navy say the public can use as it is Network Rail property and an adjacent public footpath, but the gate between the two is controlled by the sentry of the Commando Training Centre.

[RichardB]

Fair point, BNM, personally I wouldn't chance the Guard Room knowing about the FOI^▸ (Freedom of Information) answer.

I'll see if any Avocet^▸ (Branch line from Exeter to Exmouth) Line Rail Users' Group members are willing to give it a go.

[Super Guard]

Is the station gate locked though, I believe it used to be, so you may not actually be able to get off the platform.

It certainly is locked during the Summer months when the marines are on their holidays.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Video footage, from the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) (via YouTube) - just the first minute or so! 

[Brucey]

I am walking along said footpath at the moment.  The station gate is locked with a sign stating "no unauthorised access".

[Bob_Blakey]

As a keen recreational cyclist, I use this part of the Exe Estuary Trail at least twice a week. I am pretty certain the gates on either side of the foot/cyclepath are kept locked unless CTC personnel are joining, or alighting from, train services.

[Richard Fairhurst]

By which I presume you don't mean this CTC...

[Brucey]

I asked FGW^▸ (First Great Western) about this on Facebook.  Their response:

Hi Bruce,

I have had a reply from the Station Manager. She has stated that the station remains a closed station at the request of Network Rail. The station does not have all the facilities we would expect to provide for our customers and therefore remains open for military business only.

There are no plans at the moment to change this working practise i'm afraid but it will obviously be reviewed depending on further customer feedback.

Sorry I could not be the bearer of more positive news Bruce but I hope that helps to explain the current situation.

Kind regards

Considering it has a help point and a shelter, I cannot understand why it has to remain closed.  Exactly the same facilities as Exton, one stop along the line.