North Devon must move beyond 'patch-and-mend' following 24-day rail closure

Serious concerns have been raised that the weather-battered Tarka Line is no longer fit for the 21st century, following a gruelling 24-day closure that severed the primary transport artery between North Devon and Exeter.

While the line finally reopened in full on Friday, February 20, the nearly month-long shutdown has left a trail of economic and social disruption.

From students missing critical classroom time to football fans stranded and hospital appointments missed, the message from local stakeholders is clear: the Victorian-era “patch-and-mend” approach to rail maintenance has reached its breaking point.

The disruption, triggered by the relentless rain of Storm Chandra in late January, was not felt equally across the line.

While the stretch from Exeter St David’s to Crediton reopened relatively quickly, the communities of the Taw Valley, from Crediton through to Barnstaple, remained in a state of transport limbo for over three weeks.

The impact on education has been particularly acute.

A spokesperson for the Exeter and North Devon Colleges Group revealed that the Tarka Line has been out of service for nearly 10 per cent of the current college year.

“We share the frustrations of our learners,” the spokesperson told the Gazette. “More must be done to ensure transport infrastructure in the South West is protected. To have the line down for 10 per cent of the year is simply unacceptable.”

The ripple effects extended to the region’s cultural and social life.

Richard Knight, Supporter Liaison Officer at Exeter City Football Club, highlighted the plight of the North Devon Grecians, a dedicated supporters’ group with over 200 members who rely on the train to reach St James Park.

“Our club draws in support from a large part of the South West,” Mr Knight said. “These members have been significantly impacted, and the club supports any calls for urgent investment to increase the resilience of the Tarka Line.”

As the first trains finally pulled back into Barnstaple this week, the mood was one of relief tempered by caution.

A petition set up by North Devon’s MP, Ian Roome, with over 3,000 signatures has already reached Parliament, calling for a dedicated “Rail Passengers' Charter” and future-proofing investment.

Commenting on the crisis, Ian Roome MP said: “Last Friday, a single engineering train successfully made the journey north from Exeter to Barnstaple; the first train to travel on the Tarka Line for over a month.

“The damage from Storm Chandra has left North Devon with a third halt to all rail travel since November, causing chaos for thousands of local passengers. Local councils across Devon, rail experts, and more than 3,500 people who signed our petition I presented to Parliament all agree: we need improvements to the Tarka Line’s resilience.

“Meeting with me, Network Rail put a brave face on the obvious, even as their crews scrambled for urgent repairs. A plan of work for the Tarka Line is an expensive project, they admit, needing seed funding in the millions. A gold-plated modernisation of the line would demand tens of millions. And so we must also push the case beyond North Devon, including to central government. Because the damage has already been felt beyond North Devon, in lost opportunity for our region.

“Workplaces need their employees. Students are missing life lessons. If patients cannot reach specialist treatments at the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital, neither can staff. We even see it in the ticket sales of Exeter City Football Club, who this week threw their own support behind the railway campaign, on behalf of absent fans. The next winter is never more than a year away. I cannot force a Rail Minister to suffer a Replacement Bus Service in the rain, but some days, I wish I could.”

Responding to the criticism, a spokesperson for Network Rail said: “We recognise the vital role the Tarka Line plays for residents, businesses and visitors in North Devon and are aware of the impact the recent closure as a result of named storms and ongoing adverse weather conditions has had on people across the region.

“Significant investment has already been made to improve the line’s reliability and resilience, including track renewals, bridge replacements, drainage upgrades and major flood‑mitigation works near Exeter. With severe weather events becoming more frequent, further improvements are planned. Network Rail is introducing new technology to better detect flood‑related damage, and additional maintenance and track renewal works are scheduled for this spring. The arrival of GWR’s Class 175 trains will also strengthen fleet resilience across the region once fully in service.

“We remain committed to working with stakeholders and industry partners to enhance the line’s resilience, improve recovery after extreme weather, and ensure services continue to meet the needs of North Devon’s communities.”

For the students returning to Exeter College on Monday and the workers who have spent weeks on replacement buses, the benchmark for success is simple.

As Tim Steer puts it: “A resilient Tarka Line will be public transport which you can depend on; one which you can plan your life around with confidence.”

Until the government moves beyond the “patch-and-mend” philosophy, North Devon remains one storm away from another month of isolation.