MP shares ‘hope’ for Tarka Line as £36.2m confirmed for Devon and Somerset stations

NORTH DEVON MP Ian Roome has expressed his 'hope' that funding can be secured for the Tarka Line, following confirmation from the Department for Transport that £36.2 million has been made available for rail projects in Mid Devon and Somerset. 

The Department for Transport (DfT) has allocated the multi-million-pound sum during the Spending Review period to build new stations at Cullompton in Devon and Wellington in Somerset.

Last summer, the Secretary of State confirmed that four schemes from the Restoring Your Railway Fund would progress: the station reopenings at Cullompton, Wellington and Haxby, as well as the delivery of the Portishead line reopening.

In a statement to the Gazette, North Devon MP Ian Roome welcomed the news for the neighbouring area but highlighted the necessity of investment for the Barnstaple-to-Exeter line.

Mr Roome said: “Whilst I welcome the investment in the new Cullompton station, I very much hope we can also secure funding for the Tarka Line. Improving its resilience to severe weather and supporting its growing passenger numbers is essential to ensure reliable transport links for our North Devon communities.”

While the £36.2 million total has been made available for the current period, the DfT has indicated that the individual cost of each station will not be known until design work is completed later this year.

The move marks a significant step in the regional rail strategy, though local focus remains on whether similar support will be extended to the Tarka Line to address its resilience and growing demand.