Flooding causes major disruption to North Devon rail services

The rail line between Exeter St Davids and Barnstaple has been closed due to flooding, Great Western Railway (GWR) has confirmed.

The closure was triggered after Network Rail’s remote monitoring equipment detected water levels exceeding the threshold for safety at three bridges and viaducts along the route.

As a result, no trains are running on the Barnstaple branch line between Crediton and Barnstaple, while Exeter to Okehampton services are still operating.

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GWR said disruption is expected to continue until the end of the day, with the possibility of further delays as heavy rain is forecast to continue into Friday.

Network Rail will need to deploy specialist diving teams to inspect the affected structures once water levels recede before the line can reopen.

Customer advice

GWR is advising passengers to only travel if necessary and to check before travelling at GWR.com

A limited rail replacement service is now running between Exeter St Davids and Barnstaple, calling at:

• Crediton
• Copplestone
• Morchard Road
• Eggesford
• Umberleigh

Passengers at intermediate stations can use help points to arrange transport.

Tickets are also being accepted at no extra cost on Stagecoach South West bus routes 5, 5A, 5B and 5C, which connect Exeter and Barnstaple via Crediton.

The 5B service runs up to seven times a day, with a journey time of around two hours and 20 minutes between Exeter Bus Station and Barnstaple.

GWR said it will provide further updates once inspections have been completed and services can safely resume.