Barnstaple | Great Western Railway

Updated January 2021

Saturday 10 to Sunday 18 April 2021

What's happening

From Saturday 10 to Sunday 18 April, Network Rail will be upgrading the track between Exeter St Davids and Barnstaple to provide a smoother, more comfortable journey and improve reliability on this important route.

They will also use this time to extend the platforms at Eggesford, allowing for easier access to/from our trains.

To allow this work to take place, train services on the branch line will be changed, with replacement buses operating along most of the line.

Map of the Tarka line full possession in April 2021

Download a larger version of this map HERE

What you need to know:

from 10-13 April – buses will replace trains between Exeter St Davids and Barnstaple
from 14-18 April – buses will replace trains between Crediton and Barnstaple. Trains will run from Crediton towards Exeter
know where to catch the bus – at some locations our replacement buses will stop away from the stations
check train times from March – online journey planners will not show the correct train service until early March. We’ll update this web page when everything is ready

Our travel advice:

allow plenty of time – Journeys involving replacement buses will take longer than usual. Check carefully before travelling
wear a face covering – Unless exempt, you are required to wear a face covering in order to travel on public transport. This includes replacement buses
adhere to social distancing guidelines – We’ll have markers and signs around our stations but please also take care when boarding/leaving trains and replacement buses

How your journey will be affected

Click on the dates below to see how train services will be affected:

Saturday 10 to Tuesday 13 April
Download a larger version of this map HERE

The line between Exeter St Davids and Barnstaple will be closed to trains.
- replacement buses will run between Exeter St Davids and Barnstaple
- a separate shuttle bus will run between Crediton and Yeoford, connecting with the main bus between Exeter St Davids and Barnstaple
- a limited number of replacement buses will also run to/from Exeter Central
Important to note
- departure times will be different to normal train times
Wednesday 14 to Sunday 18 April
Download a larger version of this map HERE

The line between Crediton and Barnstaple will be closed to trains.
- a shuttle train service will run between St James’ Park and Crediton
- replacement buses will run between Crediton and Barnstaple
- a separate shuttle bus will run between Crediton and Yeoford, connecting with trains towards Exeter and the main bus to Barnstaple
Important to note
- departure times of buses will be different to normal train times
- the first train of the day from Exeter St Davids to Crediton will be operated by a replacement bus
- the last train of the day from Crediton to Exeter St Davids will be operated by a replacement bus

Where to catch our replacement buses

Main line

Station	Replacement bus stop location
Exeter St Davids	Front of the station
Newton St Cyres	Bus stops in the village centre
Crediton	10-13 April - Outside the Platform 1 entrance 14-18 April - Outside the Platform 2 entrance (to Barnstaple only)
Yeoford	Outside The Duck public house
Copplestone	To Barnstaple - The northbound bus stop on the one-way system, near the overbridge To Crediton/Exeter - The Sunnyside bus stop on the one-way system, near the overbridge
Morchard Road	To Barnstaple - The bus lay-by opposite the Devon Dumpling public house To Crediton/Exeter - Outside the Devonshire Dumpling public house
Lapford	To Barnstaple - Lapford Cross - junction with Kelland Hill To Crediton/Exeter - Lapford Cross - junction with Popes Lane
Eggesford	Front of the station
Kings Nympton	To Barnstaple - The station approach road entrance To Crediton/Exeter - Fortescue Cross - junction with B3226
Portsmouth Arms	To Barnstaple - Opposite the Portsmouth Arms public house To Crediton/Exeter - Outside the Portsmouth Arms public house
Umberleigh	Station forecourt
Chapelton	To Barnstaple - The lay-by opposite the station approach road To Crediton/Exeter - The station approach road entrance
Barnstaple	Front of the station

Other useful information

Assisted travel

It is best to let us know in advance if you need help. To find out more visit GWR.com/PassengerAssist

Toilet facilities on our trains and replacement buses

All our trains are equipped with fully accessible toilets. If you have any issues with our on-board facilities, please alert a member of staff.

If your journey involves a replacement bus, please be aware that there usually aren’t any toilet facilities available on these services. Any buses that are equipped with toilet facilities can only be used at the driver’s discretion.

Frequently asked questions

Why are the lines being shut?

Network Rail needs to undertake regular maintenance and renewal works to the railway. This helps to keep our trains running and reduces the risk of disruption to your journey.
What work is being done?

Most of the work being done will be track renewals. This will see jointed track replaced with continuous welded rail, providing a smoother journey for trains and reducing the maintenance required in the future.

Network Rail will also be extending both platforms at Eggesford to accommodate the full length of our trains. This will provide easier access to/from the train for customers using this station.
Which services are affected?

All services that run to/from Barnstaple.

Main line trains and services which run between Exmouth and Paignton are not affected by this work.
What days are replacement buses running?

Saturday 10 to Tuesday 13 April – Replacement buses run between Exeter St Davids and Barnstaple.

Wednesday 14 to Sunday 18 April – Replacement buses run between Crediton and Barnstaple.
When will trains run as normal?

Services will partly resume between St James’ Park and Crediton on Wednesday 14 April.

Train services across the whole of the Tarka line are due to return on Monday 19 April.
I travel between Exeter and Crediton. Will I need to use a bus?

Only between Saturday 10 and Tuesday 13 April. Trains resume between Exeter and Crediton from Wednesday 14 April.
I want to travel towards Taunton. Can I use Tiverton Parkway instead?

It depends on your ticket. Advance tickets must be used from the stations described on the ticket whilst flexible tickets (Anytime, Off-Peak, Super Off-Peak) can be used from Tiverton Parkway at no additional cost. Parking charges at Tiverton Parkway apply as normal.
What route will the replacement buses use?

All replacement buses will use the A377 which passes most of the stations on the Tarka Line, except for Yeoford.
I’m travelling to/from Yeoford. What do I do?

Due to the narrow lanes around Yeoford, it is not possible to serve this station with our main buses. We will instead run a shuttle bus between Yeoford and Crediton.

If you’re looking to travel towards Barnstaple or Exeter, you will need to change at Crediton.
How long do the buses take?
- Barnstaple to Exeter St Davids– 1 hour 35 minutes
- Barnstaple to Crediton – 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yeoford to Crediton – 15 minutes
Will replacement bus times be different between the two phases?

When comparing the same days of the week (i.e. Saturday 10 and Saturday 17), bus times will be mostly the same between the first phase (10-13 April) and second phases (14-18 April).

There will still be differences in times when comparing timetables for different days of the week so please check carefully before travelling.
I’ve been waiting for a replacement bus for while and nothing has arrived. What should I do?
- ensure you are waiting at the correct place. Some bus stops are located away from the station
- contact our Social Media team using Twitter (@GWRhelp) or Facebook Messenger (@gwruk) who can provide you with an update
- use the Help Point available at all our stations
Where can I find timetable information?

Updated train times will be available at GWR.com from March. We will update this page when everything is ready.
When can I book Advance tickets?

We expect Advance tickets will be available to purchase from March. We will update this page when everything is ready.

Still have questions?

If there is something you would like to ask us, get in touch with our team on Social Media. Search for ‘Great Western Railway’ on Facebook or Twitter.

Travel Updates