Exeter passengers fed up with 35-year-old trains? This group is fighting to replace them

If you travel by train between Exeter and London Waterloo, a group of people has been working on your behalf to improve the experience.

The Salisbury to Exeter Rail User Group, known as SERUG, is an independent passenger campaign that lobbies the train operator, Network Rail, the Department for Transport and local and national government to improve the line's service, timetable resilience, capacity, and trains.

SERUG is not funded by any commercial rail operator or rail-based organisation. It lobbies independently for all improvements that will benefit the travelling public, and is affiliated to Railfuture, a non-political, not-for-profit organisation which campaigns for a bigger and better railway in Britain.

The group represents passengers at 13 stations along the route: Tisbury, Gillingham, Templecombe, Sherborne, Yeovil Junction, Crewkerne, Axminster, Honiton, Feniton, Whimple, Cranbrook, Pinhoe and Exeter Central.

The line is currently operated using Class 158 and 159 diesel trains dating from the late 1980s, some of the oldest trains still in use on a main line in Britain.

The route is electrified from London only as far as Basingstoke, and the mostly single-track line west of there severely restricts performance.

South Western Railway was taken into public ownership in 2025, becoming the first franchise to become part of the new Great British Railways structure.

SERUG says the line faces three existential issues that must be addressed as a priority.

Rail infrastructure. Limited passing places on the mostly single-track route lead to persistent delays. Network Rail has a detailed plan to resolve this, but it is not currently funded.

Replacement trains. The current diesel units date from the late 1980s, some of the oldest trains still in use on a main line. The route is electrified from London to Basingstoke only. A favoured proposal is to modify redundant suburban electric units into bi-mode electric and battery trains, using short electrified sections at key stations to top up the batteries. A way forward must be chosen and funded.

Geological weakness. Loss of moisture in the ground beneath the track can cause embankment collapse and subsidence in cuttings, especially during dry summers, leading to speed restrictions and closures that can last for weeks. Network Rail has taken steps to repair and rebuild sections, but a full long-term solution lacks funding.

Beyond these three priorities, SERUG has submitted a detailed seven-point vision to South Western Railway covering new rolling stock, a new maintenance depot at Salisbury, new passing loops near Whimple and Tisbury, signalling upgrades, improvements at Exeter Central, and the implementation of the proposed Devon Metro scheme, which would provide more frequent services between Axminster and Exeter Central.

These improvements were agreed in principle before nationalisation by SWR, Network Rail, and the county councils of Devon, Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire, as well as Western Gateway and Peninsula Rail.

South Western Railway has confirmed its forthcoming Business Plan, expected this spring, will feature the West of England line prominently. SERUG will be watching closely to see whether firm commitments follow.

Exeter Today will be reporting on developments for this route as they happen.

Information in this article is drawn from SERUG's Spring 2026 newsletter and the group's published priorities.