I remember someone saying along time ago
that the reason the Tiverton Parkway express road was built was an attempt to close the Exeter to Barnstaple rail line.
I well remember speculation in the press at that time that it would spell the end of the
Tarka▸ Line. My own family members were quick to start using Tivvy Parkway (41 miles) instead of the short drive to Umberleigh station (2 miles) for trips to London and the North.
I don’t think it was any coincidence that Barnstaple freight yard was closed and sold off just after the Link Road opened (Closure of the Torrington line was officially due to a lack of funding for new air-braked wagons, but ‘coincidentally’ happened at the same time). A consequence of the freight yard closure was the closure of Barnstaple signal box (and probably the Eggesford closure too).
The outcome was that the clay and Blue Circle freight moved to road and the fertiliser traffic had to switch to Lapford yard. Quite a significant loss of income, although
BR▸ made a hefty sum flogging off the yard. Also lost were the loco hauled services and the passing loop at Barnstaple was lifted.
So was this all a precursor to closing the passenger services? BR had installed new signalling between
EXD» and north of Crediton at around that time, which seemed a vote of confidence and not needed if it were to become freight only to Meldon in the future, so maybe not.
Miss the freight though, one off the last branches in Britain to have a daily mixed freight, and the Torrington/Meeth line was a savage loss to what was left of North Devon’s railway infrastructure.
Anyway, every time I travel the line I’m grateful that it clung on and has since prospered.
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