South Devon railway station reopens after major fire as services return

Paignton railway station is due to reopen to passengers from 8am today (Tuesday), just one week after a major fire caused significant damage to the station building and surrounding railway infrastructure.

Great Western Railway (GWR) and Network Rail have confirmed that local stopping services between Paignton and Newton Abbot will resume this morning following repair and safety work.

However, the station will reopen with certain restrictions in place.

Damage to the platform means nine-carriage Intercity Express Trains, including direct services between Paignton and London Paddington, will continue to start and terminate at Exeter St Davids or Newton Abbot until further notice.

Temporary ticketing facilities are being put in place after the former ticket office was damaged in the fire, but they will not be available immediately.

Passengers are being encouraged to buy tickets using the GWR app or speak to staff on board. The station car park also remains closed.

GWR Business Assurance Director Joe Graham said: "After seeing the extent of the damage last Tuesday evening, getting services running to Paignton within a week felt like a really ambitious target.

"It has only been possible because of the huge effort from Network Rail and GWR colleagues working together, and I'm delighted services will resume tomorrow.

"The station will not yet be fully open while repair work continues. We are sorry for the disruption caused to passengers and the wider community, and we are grateful for their patience and understanding.

"We would also like to thank Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, Devon and Cornwall Police, British Transport Police and Torbay Council for the exceptional support they have provided throughout their response.

"Customers should check gwr.com for the latest travel information before travelling. We will continue to provide updates as further progress is made."

Network Rail said all temporary facilities have been assessed to ensure they meet disability access requirements, with updated fire safety procedures and signage in place ahead of the reopening.

Daniel Parkes, route infrastructure engineer for Network Rail's Great Western Route, said: "Reopening Paignton station to train services one week after such a significant fire is a remarkable achievement and reflects the dedication of colleagues across the railway who have worked tirelessly to make this possible.

"The fire caused extensive damage to the station building, and while passengers will be able to travel to and from Paignton tomorrow, work to fully rebuild parts of the station will continue for some time.

"In the meantime, alternative arrangements for entering and exiting the station will be in place via the car park.

"We know how important Paignton station is to the local community and to visitors, especially at such a busy time of the year, so restoring services as swiftly and as safely as possible has been our priority.

"We'd like to thank passengers for their patience while we worked to achieve this and will update the community on the rebuilding work as soon as we're able to share more about the anticipated timescales for these repairs."

Passengers travelling to and from Paignton are being advised to check the latest travel information before setting out, allow extra time for their journeys and plan onward connections while temporary arrangements remain in place.

The fire last Tuesday prompted a major emergency response and the suspension of rail services.

Following the incident, British Transport Police arrested three boys, aged 13, 15 and 16, on suspicion of arson. They were later released on conditional bail while enquiries continue.