Northern Devon Railway Development Alliance: MODERNISING THE NORTH DEVON (TARKA) LINE
FOR QUICKER JOURNEYS AND TWICE-HOURLY SERVICES, AND EXTENDING RAIL SERVICES TO
BIDEFORD

 

 

The Northern Devon Railway Development Alliance (which since late-2023 has absorbed the activities of the original ACE Rail campaign) has grown by 2025 to comprise two dozen partner and stakeholder organisations. They collaborate to secure both the upgrade of the existing North Devon (Tarka) Line, and the reconnection of Bideford to the national rail network at Barnstaple, to offer a modern, fast, mainline rail service to central Exeter.  Launched in mid-2021, the ACE Rail campaign had already succeeded in attracting the support of local MPs, and of local authorities which adopted its aspirations with Council Motions of support.  No longer a pipedream, this has set Bideford on a realistic and achievable route to be reconnected by rail to Barnstaple, central Exeter and the rest of the South West’s mainline rail network.

                                                                                                                                    Next stop, Bideford!


Why Bideford?
Over 31,000 residents make Greater Bideford (which includes East-the-Water, Appledore, Northam, and
Westward Ho!) the largest urban population in Devon and the South West, and one of the largest in Britain,
still without the economic, social and environmental benefits of a rail service.  Bideford is in Torridge district
which is ranked as one of the economically lowest-achieving areas in the UK.

 

A mainline Bideford-Barnstaple-Exeter rail service would:
1. Bring reliable public transport to Bideford and Barnstaple with competitive journey times to central Exeter
– around 60 minutes from Bideford, 45 minutes from Barnstaple are the target times.
2. Add the new transport capacity, connectivity and choice needed to meet the travel needs of a growing
area.
3. Transform economic and educational prospects for Greater Bideford and Barnstaple people and
businesses with 21st-century access to the county’s primary economic hub, its capital city.
4. Bring social as well as economic value to this coastal-rural northern corner of Devon by opening-up
opportunities to local communities, seeking a more prosperous and resilient future for all.


As well as help in creating employment and learning opportunities, it will enhance the profile and perception
of the local area, and help the community engage with the railway and the opportunities it will bring,
reinvigorating an identity for this area of northern Devon as an attractive place to live, work, visit and enjoy.


Although a route, alignment and terminus for the Bideford extension of the North Devon Line remain to be
determined from detailed studies yet to be commissioned, if the original alignment and station site were to
be used again for mainline rail services then early thought should be given to future arrangements at the
town’s potential new point of arrival and departure.


The Northern Devon Railway Development Alliance, initiated by Railfuture in late-2023, was founded by
first Bideford Town Council then the former Tarka Rail Association, Barnstaple and Northam Town Councils,
and Torridge District Council.


The two dozen partners and stakeholders now in the Northern Devon Railway Development Alliance are
Great Western Railway, Network Rail, a County Council (Devon), three District Councils (Mid-Devon, North
Devon, and Torridge), three Town Councils (Barnstaple, Bideford, and Northam), five Parish Councils
(Burrington, Chittlehamholt Satterleigh Warkleigh, Chulmleigh, King's Nympton, and Lapford), sub-
national transport body Peninsula Transport, Peninsula Rail Task Force, Petroc College, Navantia UK
(formerly Harland Wolff) Appledore, South West Business Council, TravelWatch SouthWest, Devon &
Cornwall Rail Partnership, Friends of Barnstaple Railway Station, North Devon Line Rail Promotion Group
(formerly Tarka Rail Association), and Railfuture.


Members of Parliament for Torridge & Tavistock, North Devon, Central Devon, and Exeter are all engaged
with the Alliance.


The Alliance campaign is affiliated to Railfuture and has received financial support from Railfuture’s
Fighting Fund, Great Western Railway's Customer Community Improvement Fund, the former Tarka Rail
Association, the UK government’s Shared Prosperity Fund via Torridge District Council, Bideford and
Barnstaple Town Councils, and King’s Nympton and Chulmleigh Parish Councils.
Other support has been expressed by OkeRAIL, Crediton Town Council, Bishop's Tawton, Chittlehampton,
Eggesford, Tawstock, and Wembworthy Parish Councils, also provisionally from Fremington Parish
Council.