Time to improve public transport in Devon

Local Liberal Democrat Councillors have issued a call to improve public transport in central Devon, especially along the Tarka and Okehampton railway lines.

“We need more trains and more joined up thinking,” said Steve Keable, Liberal Democrat Mid Devon Cabinet Councillor for Planning & Economic Regeneration. “It is not sufficient just to extend rail line capacity, although it is sorely needed, we must recognise rail is a funnel service to our rural areas. We need a 30-minute service with double the trains on the Tarka Line, improved Station access and joined up timetables, where buses coincide with train arrivals and departures.  Both Tarka and Dartmoor Lines are in high demand, both up 50,000 passengers in a year, so the demand is there to justify the investment. In rural locations train stations may be rare but people often drive to their local station and then get the train to Barnstaple and Exeter, and onwards from there.

“The £1 billion investment in bus services announced by the Government is of course welcome. As is the announcement that local Councils can take more direct control of buses. That should allow for more integrated transport plans. My concern though is that the money will be directed towards cities and yet again our rural communities will be left behind. I welcome the announcement, but it is a cautious welcome until we see the detail. We shouldn’t forget, either, that the Government has effectively raised bus fares by 50% for many people with ticket prices increasing from £2 to £3, a move opposed by the Liberal Democrats. So it is not all good news on the public transport front.”

The railway line from Crediton to Okehampton celebrated its third anniversary in November. This has proved to be a great success with 410,000 journeys being made this past year on the single-track line. This number will undoubtedly increase with the opening of the new Okehampton Interchange station in 2026.

Cllr. George Dexter is working to ensure that the link roads in Okehampton, which will run past the new station, are opened before the station is, and that there are enough bus services from all surrounding towns and villages , which match up with the train timetable. “It’s not enough just to improve the rail service. Associated local public transport, and roads and car parks need to be improved,” said George.

Cllr. Jim Cairney commented on the likely growth in demand for rail services. “Demand will grow even further as the Labour Government require more house building. Growth must be planned with investment all along the Tarka and Okehampton Lines. Given how rural our area is it is important to recognise that people may have to undertake hybrid journeys to use rail, driving to stations for onward journeys. Given the timescales on building new infrastructure we need decisions to be taken now.”

“The demand for rail is definitely there,” observed Steve Keable. “The Tarka line carried 800,000 passengers in 2023, up 7%. The Okehampton line has seen 410,000 journeys, significantly more than was expected. This surge in demand has caused problems. I know this because people have raised it with me. Current rail travel demands often result in standing room only, and passengers being left behind. This has impacted students in the Lapford area with a number now struggling to get to college in Exeter because there is just no room on trains.”

Liberal Democrat campaigner Christian Martin commented. “It’s not an ‘either … or’ decision, that is either public transport or cars and roads. As Liberal Democrats we are proud to have secured £34million to improve roads in Cullompton, but that should go hand in glove with reopening the Cullompton railway station. Linked up thinking was sadly lacking under the Conservative Government. We hope that Labour will take a more integrated approach, although it is worrying to hear Labour may cancel the Cullompton railway station project, which had been approved.”

“In tackling the environmental crisis public transport has a key role to play. That is why Liberal Democrats in Devon are calling on the Government and Devon County and local District Councils to take an integrated approach, but above all to accelerate the investment in our public transport infrastructure,” concluded Steve Keable.