Investment 'well overdue' for million-passenger rail line, Barnstaple council says

Barnstaple Town Council is set to release a letter this week to the Rail Minister, Lord Hendy of Richmond, warning that North Devon is being "severely disrupted" by a lack of rail resilience.

The formal intervention, signed by town clerk Robert Ward, comes as the Barnstaple-to-Exeter line prepares for its third total closure of 2026. 

The route, which only resumed services on February 20 after a month of weather-related disruption, is scheduled to shut again from March 21 to March 29.

In the letter, the council describes a sense of growing despair among residents, stating that North Devon could be "forgiven for losing hope" in a service that relies on "occasional patch-and-mend" rather than sustainable investment.

The letter calls on Lord Hendy to:

• Work closely with partners to identify and release funds for investment.
• Enable a dependable public service to be delivered.
• Ensure future investment and growth in the North Devon economy.

Despite the infrastructure challenges, the line has seen record-breaking growth, recently surpassing one million journeys in a 12-month period. 

The council argues that this popularity is being stifled by a network that fails during "significant, but not extreme" weather events.

"There are a large proportion of the local population who have to rely on public transport to get to education, employment and to travel further afield... this has been severely disrupted over the last few weeks,” said Mr Ward.

Network Rail has confirmed the closure dates to the North Devon Gazette, though the operator has not yet issued a specific statement on the nature of the work. However, it is understood the upcoming nine-day closure in March is for essential track renewal and maintenance to ensure long-term safety.

The letter has also been copied to Ian Roome, MP for North Devon, as the council seeks a permanent solution to the ongoing disruptions.

The council argues that the line has "long needed comprehensive modernisation" and that investment is now "well overdue."

With North Devon already described as "very remote" with a "less than adequate road network," the council concludes that a dependable rail service is vital to give confidence to the population and ensure future investment and growth in the local economy.