Tarka Line - Exeter to Barnstaple - services, passenger numbers, carriages, engineering works, incidents and events

[whole diary]

[devon_metro]

Points, signals and level crossings need operating. Not to mention any emergencies

[gaf71]

Crediton signaller also operates the Token machine for the CDI-EGG section, and EGG-BNP^▸ (Barnstaple), (though the driver operates the machine at Eggesford). There are no signals beyond Yeoford.

[Tim]

Ok thanks

[SandTEngineer]

Crediton signaller also operates the Token machine for the CDI-EGG section, and EGG-BNP^▸ (Barnstaple), (though the driver operates the machine at Eggesford). There are no signals beyond Yeoford.

Oh yes there are.

Distant Boards, Stop Boards and Point Indicators at Eggesford.

Distant board at Barnstaple.

All of these are classified as signals

[Lee]

Welcome to the forum, SandTEngineer

[Super Guard]

Back to training school for gaf71 

[gaf71]

Did I not say 'controlled'?

[gaf71]

Crediton signaller also operates the Token machine for the CDI-EGG section, and EGG-BNP^▸ (Barnstaple), (though the driver operates the machine at Eggesford). There are no signals beyond Yeoford.

Oh yes there are.

Distant Boards, Stop Boards and Point Indicators at Eggesford.

Distant board at Barnstaple.

All of these are classified as signals

You forgot the white lights at Umberleigh crossing, and the BU indicators at  Eggesford. If you are going to be pedantic, do it properly!

[Whippo]

What about a re-introduction of through trains from Torbay or Plymouth to Barnstaple??
I know that most passengers would probably like a direct service to central rather than change at St Davids but as it stands most services from Plymouth and some from the bay don't call at central anyway (XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise))/FGW^▸ (First Great Western) Paddington services). Also, most stopping services later at night from the bay terminate at St. Davids so there would be potential especially at weekends. (Haven't seen the new TT yet though so correct me if i'm wrong!)

As to the Signalling at Crediton, I presume there is still freight to/from Meldon so perhaps that is why there are staff at night. (Again, correct me if i'm wrong about this too!!)

Cheers

[Super Guard]

What about a re-introduction of through trains from Torbay or Plymouth to Barnstaple??
I know that most passengers would probably like a direct service to central rather than change at St Davids but as it stands most services from Plymouth and some from the bay don't call at central anyway (XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise))/FGW^▸ (First Great Western) Paddington services). Also, most stopping services later at night from the bay terminate at St. Davids so there would be potential especially at weekends. (Haven't seen the new TT yet though so correct me if i'm wrong!)

As to the Signalling at Crediton, I presume there is still freight to/from Meldon so perhaps that is why there are staff at night. (Again, correct me if i'm wrong about this too!!)

Cheers

I believe there is a relief signalman overnight at Crediton when there is freight around.  Whether that is a permanent fixture or not I don't know.

[RichardB]

http://www.thisisnorthdevon.co.uk/news/Train-hopping-cat-hitches-ride-Tarka-line/article-2930888-detail/article.html

[159jim]

LOL^▸ (laughing out loud)!

[JayMac]

1..2..3..  aaaahhh. 

[gaf71]

The late night Exeter to Barnstaple service starts next week on Fridays only. Leaves St Davids 2300 ish and returns ECS^▸ (Empty Coaching Stock). I believe this is for a trial period to begin with.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From this is North Devon:

Reporter Joel Cooper jumped on an early train to Exeter to quiz First Great Western regional manager Julian Crow about the Barnstaple to Exeter rail service.

Julian Crow has been regional manager of First Great Western's West of England service since 2006 when the company took over the franchise from Wessex Trains.

Despite this being his first foray into the world of local trains, he admits to relishing the challenge of developing branch lines within the region.

However, during his time in charge, he says he has also heard almost every complaint in the book about the Barnstaple to Exeter service.

I put some of the recurring concerns of regular rail users to Mr Crow to see what plans the firm has to address them.

But first I had to get to Exeter using the first class ticket the train company had, rather surprisingly, sent me . . .

Bleary-eyed and expecting the worst, I took my seat on the 7am service to meet First Great Western boss Julian Crow at Exeter's St David's station.

The train company's press office had kindly sent me a complimentary first class return ticket for the service.

I politely asked the conductor to point me in the direction of the first class carriage, naively expecting a reclining seat, complimentary nibbles and as much champagne as I could quaff.

However, with a wry smile, the conductor said: "You'll be lucky." Worth a try I guess.

I was fortunate to be travelling on a Class 143 Pacer model with proper seats, a toilet and much needed heaters.

As the whistle blew and the train rolled away, both carriages were approximately half filled with the slightly bemused faces of unenthusiastic rural commuters.

The service stopped at all of the 13 stations along the route ^ namely Chapelton, Umberleigh, Portsmouth Arms, Kings Nympton, Eggesford, Lapford, Morchard Road, Copplestone, Yeoford, Crediton, Newton St Cyres, Exeter St David's and Exeter Central.

The carriage slowly started to fill up along the route with no more than 30 passengers in total getting on at the rural stations.

However, there were still a fair few seats available and the rolling countryside views afforded by my window seat provided a pleasant distraction.

It was at Yeoford that I started to notice the sighs of passengers who could not find a seat and when we arrived at Crediton around ten people were stood near the doors and in the aisles.

Fortunately the remaining journey time was no more than ten minutes and, after a brief stop at Exeter St David's, Central station soon came into view.

My journey had taken 83 minutes and had not been anywhere near as unpleasant as I'd feared.

Maybe I was lucky to catch it on a quiet day. Perhaps it would have been a different story if I'd travelled on an older train.

Maybe doing this journey every day would start to take its toll on my mental wellbeing.

Don't get me wrong, there is certainly room for improvement ^ but things could be a lot worse too.