Barnstaple Station - awards, improvements, facilities and connections

[whole diary]

[RichieG]

Richie, 

As a close watcher of the scene, I can tell you FGW^▸ (First Great Western) never promised Barnstaple - Paddington HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train).  If Wessex Trains had been allowed to absorb the Waterloo - Exeter line, they promised Waterloo - Barnstaple Cl 159s, but it was decided to go for the franchise we have today instead. 

Removing the Waterloo - Exeter line from South West Trains was the sticking point.  That proposal was very unpopular along that route.

The white line on Platform 2 is a small, pretty inexpensive safety measure.  It's not "elf n safe tea" gone mad"!  Some hope that Platform 2 may be back in use one day.  Who knows, one day they might be right.

Richard Burningham
Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership

Blimey charlie, keep your hat on!!! When the local press say that 'Barnstaple could see trains to London Paddington' then I would assume that it would be an HST service! Admittedly, this was in the local freebe paper, but with the ND Journal saying similar in its headlines (but probably more accurate in the article as to which London terminal it would be to) can you blame me for getting it wrong - especially as I was not as into the railway scene as I am now, and know that HSTs have visited Barnstaple in the past. Reading your post I can see what has happened and why it has happened. And of course, Barnstaple to Waterloo is much more historic than Barnstaple to Paddington!*

I am still of the opinion that the white line isn't completely necessary and is just a bit of pointless H&S^▸ (Health and Safety) but I am prepared to back down on that - after all, I asked its purpose and was answered.

However, I do not see any reason why - unless the line is extended to Bideford again (which I personally doubt will happen with Sticklepath roundabout in the way - even though supposedly the roundabout is built in such a way as to allow the extention the evidence of that I cannot see!) where the station can be used as a passing loop.

You can't 'reinstate' something that never existed - although all the bridges along the line were built for double track it was mostly single track - the only doubled sections were between Barnstaple and Umberleigh, and from Coleford Junction to Cowley Bridge.

OK, simple syntax error there. I am aware that the line wasn't dual track along its whole length, though I believe that it was further north than Cowley Bridge but hey ho! I also know that the infrastructure was set up for dual track at some point during the 20s I believe, but that this was never provided.

* Just so people know, I do realise that Barnstaple was served from both Waterloo and Paddington during its heyday, but being an LSWR^▸ (London South Western Railway) station it is more historic to be Waterloo!

[John R]

Blimey charlie, keep your hat on!!!

Richard B seemed quite polite in his response. Maybe it's your hat that needs holding down. 

OK, simple syntax error there. I am aware that the line wasn't dual track along its whole length, though I believe that it was further north than Cowley Bridge but hey ho! I also know that the infrastructure was set up for dual track at some point during the 20s I believe, but that this was never provided.

A syntax error is a grammatical mistake to do with the structure of the sentence, whereas I think yours was a plain error. You can't reinstate something that was never there.

[devon_metro]

On a (sort of) related note, I notice that SWT^▸ (South West Trains) have withdrawn resevations on their Exeter to London services!!

[TerminalJunkie]

I am aware that the line wasn't dual track along its whole length, though I believe that it was further north than Cowley Bridge

Coleford Junction *is* further north than Cowley Bridge (it's the former junction for the Okehampton line).

[The SprinterMeister]

reinstate the second track along its whole length

You can't 'reinstate' something that never existed - although all the bridges along the line were built for double track it was mostly single track - the only doubled sections were between Barnstaple and Umberleigh, and from Coleford Junction to Cowley Bridge.

The double track section in fact went as far as Copplestone at the Exeter end of the line. All the earthworks / structures from Coleford Jn to Umberleigh were altered to allow the second line to be laid (having been built as a single broad gauge line) but the LSWR^▸ (London South Western Railway) & GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) then decided to stop competing for the North Devon traffic on their respective routes in about 1906. They pooled their receipts and split the proceeds instead. The double line thus stopped at Copplestone & Umberleigh with passing loops retained at all the intermediate stations.

[JayMac]

From the North Devon Journal:

Barnstaple railway station has been awarded first place in the best kept station category as part of the Tarka^▸ (Line from Barnstaple to Exeter) Line Flowers Competition.

The competition, which rewards the efforts of volunteers who tend to stations along the Tarka line, is organised by the Tarka Rail Association and is funded partly by sponsorship from First Great Western.

Volunteer Janet Day picked up the award for her floral displays at Barnstaple station while Andy Hedges picked up the best wildlife conservation award for his work at Umberleigh station.

His restoration of the old concrete Umberleigh station sign and an outstanding display of roses helped him to win the accolade.

John Phillips, chairman of the Tarka Rail Association, said: "I should like to thank all those who give up their free time to make our stations attractive for passengers who I know very much appreciate the efforts made."

[TerminalJunkie]

Just in case anybody wanders by this thread, from Good Friday (22 April 2011) until August Bank Holiday there will be an hourly (two-hourly on Sundays and Bank Holidays) Open Top service from Barnstaple Station to Braunton, Saunton and Croyde.

Details here.

[TerminalJunkie]

No, I've never heard of them, either.

But we won something - "Best Small Station":
http://www.irishrail.ie/news_centre/travel_alerts.asp?action=view&news_id=1247

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) press release:

BARNSTAPLE STATION WINS INTERNATIONAL AWARD

Barnstaple Station has been awarded Best Small International Station at the Translink International Station Awards in Cork, Ireland. 

The competition rewards the effort and commitment of railway stations who have worked hard to provide excellent passenger facilities and customer service.

Judges marked each station entry on key criteria including: appearance, facilities, transport links and customer focus as well as looking for evidence of staff commitment and pride in service delivery.

Barnstaple station is part of the picturesque Tarka^▸ (Line from Barnstaple to Exeter) Line, which runs from Exeter to Barnstaple, a route covered by the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership. The Partnership, working with First Great Western and volunteers from the Tarka Line Association, have worked hard over the years to improve facilities at the station and promote the line in general. Passenger journeys have risen from 47% from April 2007 to April 2011.

The station is the starting point for the scenic Tarka Trail cycle path. Cycles are available to hire as part of support for promoting tourist visits.

First Great Western Area Manager David Crome said:

^This award is validation for the amazing work accomplished by Station manager Melanie Harvey and her hard working staff. I^d also like to thank the local volunteers, Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership, Tarka Rail Association and Network Rail for all their contributions to improving Barnstaple Station. ^

Richard Burningham, Manager of the Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership said:

^I am delighted that Barnstaple has won this prestigious award. The development at the station is down to a lot of hard work by a lot of people and would not have been possible without the support of local volunteers, Devon County Council, the Tarka Rail Association and staff from First Great Western and Network Rail.^

Tarka Rail Association Chairman John Burch said:

^Barnstaple station now gains International acknowledgement for its position at the far end of a railway line that has been growing in strategic importance for some time! The Tarka Line will soon cross the 500,000 passengers a year threshold.

^That is in no small part due to the work of the great team at Barnstaple where our own Mike Day has done fantastic work to provide a superb facility for customers and was in Cork as part of the team who received the award. We look forward to welcoming further new visitors to the line now that this award has further broadened awareness of the line and Barnstaple^s position as gateway to North Devon.^

[IndustryInsider]

Hmmm, whilst I wouldn't like to say that Barnstaple isn't worthy of an award, judging by the following link, the Translink International Station Awards only comprised of 8 different companies/franchises:

http://www.build.co.uk/construction_news.asp?newsid=136078

The eight participating companies were:

    Mersey Rail
    First Great Western
    First Transpennine Express
    Arriva Trains Wales
    Metro Tyne Wear
    Iarnr^d ^ireann
    Translink NI Railways
    London Overground

International in the loosest possible sense!

[inspector_blakey]

What on earth do you mean? Or course Merseyside is another country...

[JayMac]

As, arguably, is Wales. Phoned a North Wales bus company this morning and was greeted in Welsh. Found myself asking, "Do you speak English?" and felt a bit of a chump for doing so.

[inspector_blakey]

Now here's a thought...seeing as (at least on one level) technically England, Wales and Scotland are all different countries perhaps it should be "International Rail"... 

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the North Devon Gazette:

Partnership project highlights wealth of station walks


From left: Mike Day from the Station Master^s Caf^, John Slater from the South West Coast Path Team and Matt Edworthy Devon County Council launch the new map boards on Friday.

Two new map boards have been unveiled to encourage people to take the train to Barnstaple and walk the Tarka^▸ (Line from Barnstaple to Exeter) Trail and South West Coast Path.

The boards, launched on Friday, show the variety of walks which can be accessed from Barnstaple railway station.

One is situated outside the Station Master^s Caf^ and the second is on a key junction close to where several paths meet. A third is planned for the front of the station.

The rail tourism project is the result of collaboration between the South West Coast Path team, Devon County Council and the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership.

The Tarka Trail Cycle Hire and the Station Master^s Caf^, both based at the station, are also involved in the initiative.

In Cornwall, similar map boards have been installed at Looe and Penzance stations but Barnstaple is the first Devon station to be involved.

Mike Day, from the Station Master^s Caf^, said ^The South West Coast Path is a vital national asset and we are very happy to support it. Barnstaple railway station forms a key gateway into North Devon and the train offers an environmentally sustainable way of accessing the South West Coast Path from around the UK^▸ (United Kingdom). Once here, people can explore the path by foot or certain sections by cycle from the cycle hire here at the station.^

[TerminalJunkie]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHVoYIpBb6s