Ivybridge rail campaign reaches key stage as platform study nears completion

A feasibility study into extending the platforms at Ivybridge railway station is now going through its final costings, with Network Rail hoping to complete it within the next few weeks.

The work could pave the way for more train services to stop at the station, including CrossCountry services which currently pass through without calling.

Rebecca Smith, MP for South West Devon, said Network Rail had told her the feasibility study was now going through its final costings and was expected to be ready within the next few weeks.

“There has been progress on the work looking at extending the platforms at Ivybridge,” she said.

South Hams District Council provided £20,000 towards the feasibility work.

Many CrossCountry trains are longer than Ivybridge’s platforms and do not have selective door opening, meaning they cannot currently stop at the station.

If the study finds that the platforms can be extended, funding would then need to be secured for the work.

Demand for more trains

Ms Smith has been campaigning for improved rail services at Ivybridge alongside the Ivybridge Rail Users Group, PL:21 and South Hams District Council, with Network Rail, CrossCountry and GWR also involved in discussions.

She said a recent transport survey found that 94 per cent of respondents in Ivybridge wanted more trains to stop at the station.

A further 80 per cent said they would be more likely to use the train more often if more services called there.

Passenger numbers have also increased, with figures cited by Smith “showing nearly 137,000 entries and exits at Ivybridge station during 2024/25, around 16 per cent more than the previous year.”

Smith said she had previously raised in Parliament the number of rail services passing through Ivybridge.

“29 CrossCountry services were passing through Ivybridge without stopping, alongside 16 GWR services stopping there,” she said.

“I believe that getting more services to call at Ivybridge could make a real difference for local residents.”

Railfuture backs Ivybridge campaign

Railfuture has also backed extending both platforms.

Tim Steer, chair of Railfuture’s Devon and Cornwall regional branch, said it was ‘frustrating’ that some trains could not call at Ivybridge because of the current arrangements.

“It must be so frustrating knowing that only certain service operators that have selective door opening on rolling stock can stop at the station while other trains such as CrossCountry cannot call into the station,” he said.

Mr Steer said the organisation welcomed the support from Ms Smith and GWR, as well as the funding provided by South Hams District Council.

“Railfuture will now request a meeting at the station to see the campaign for ourselves and meet with the supporters, campaigners and the local MP," Mr Steer concluded.

How does Plymouth Metro fit in?

The campaign for more mainline services comes alongside plans for a proposed Plymouth Metro rail service.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), Plymouth City Council leader Tudor Evans has said businesses in the city are focused on improving rail journey times between Plymouth and London.

“The more stops you make on the line the slower that journey becomes,” Evans said.

“We have a couple of trains now that take three hours to London but that is with very few stops.”

Evans said the council’s focus was on getting the Plymouth Metro “up and running”, with the proposed service intended to improve connections between Ivybridge and Plymouth and support people travelling into the city for work.

He described the proposal as involving local trains running between Plymouth and communities to the east of the city, including a proposed additional station at Plympton.

The LDRS also reported that the proposed Metro is intended to provide a “turn up and go” rail service for Plymouth’s eastern areas, with the wider project aimed at improving transport links and easing congestion on the A38.

Ms Smith has said she wants Ivybridge to be fully included in the proposed Metro while continuing to push for improvements to mainline services.

She said better mainline connections would also help residents travelling between Ivybridge, Plymouth, Exeter and London.

The immediate next step is for Network Rail to complete the feasibility study.

If extending the platforms is found to be possible, funding will then need to be secured before the work can go ahead.