Barnstaple ('Tarka') Line - services, facilities, events and incidents (merged posts)

[whole diary]

[grahame]

I think this thread needs splitting as it has digressed significantly from a review of the new Barney line trains.

This topic powered off toward Exmouth and Paignton ... I have split it with the new topic at http://www.passenger.chat/24131

[bobm]

Took a trip on the Barnstaple line today, my first journey to North Devon for a while.

Not just the luxury of a three car 158 as opposed to the 143 I had last time but also large sections of the line now have continuous welded rail rather than jointed track.

I certainly noticed the difference!

[grahame]

From https://www.facebook.com/groups/476779799019876/permalink/4207194649311687/

Just seen APCOA^▸ (Car parking company used at GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) - controlled stations in the area) put up a new parking charges notice at Barnstaple Railway Station
Applicable from the 17th May 2021

Are these big changes? What effect if any will this have on passenger numbers?   Is the same thing happening at other stations?

[ChrisB]

Maybe so, but don’t blame the operator as their overlords want the cash raising

[TonyK]

I hope this link works here. It's Mark Hopwood CBE on LinkedIn, talking about the service to Barnstaple - and beyond!

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/mark-hopwood-cbe-b1887022_so-after-a-gap-in-videos-you-find-two-come-activity-7006985604668219392-jS06?utm_source=li_share&utm_content=public_post&utm_medium=g_dt_web&utm_campaign=copy

(And if anyone knows how to do the link properly, please do!)

[eightonedee]

It's very brave of mark to have a photo of a class 769 as the background picture for his LinkedIn profile!

[bradshaw]

  The Tarka^▸ (Branch line from Barnstaple to Exeter) rail line has broken all of its passenger records by seeing more than 800,000 journeys in one year.
The North Devon train line, operated by Great Western Railway (GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)), goes from Exeter to Barnstaple.
However, the Tarka Rail Association (TRA) said the hourly service was now reaching passenger capacity and had become "a victim of its own success".
GWR said it would continue to look at short-term solutions while lobbying for longer-term improvements.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-67727984

[infoman]

BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) Spotlight local news for the South West had an item on this story on the 17:50pm local news on Saturday afternoon(23rd December)

[infoman]

till Sunday 14th January for engineering work.

Bus replacement in operation,just wish a non stop service from Tiverton Parkway to Barnstaple was in operation

[bobm]

Damage has been reported to an overbridge on the Barnstaple line at Copplestone.   The line is set to be shut until at least Tuesday (23rd Jan).

Services to Crediton from Exeter being maintained by Okehampton services, although they are terminating there this evening as there are several weather related problems beyond there to Okehampton.

Edit to add:  Okehampton services now suspended too, so no service to Crediton.

[TaplowGreen]

Seen the pictures of the damage, looks pretty dramatic!

[plymothian]

A 2m section of this bridge has come away from the structure, which itself is bulging.

[JayMac]

[AMLAG]

Looks very like lots of roots hanging down, from likely vegetation/bushes / buddleia etc being allowed to grow in the bridge structure that eventually fell off through likely water ingress/ frost / wind action etc bringing rubble and stone out with it.

[infoman]

Don't know the area very well,but is it the small bridge over the railway line?

If so,put in a speed limit and could a watch person not just observe the bridge when a train is getting near.

The stone work is only going to fall on the roof of the train>