On this date, 15 years ago, the most recent train from Barnstaple station arrived at (the former) Bideford station.
Follow Railfuture | Bideford and Barnstaple to Exeter diary
On this date, in 1855, the railway first reached Bideford (image of first train approaching original Cross Parks station). Only 110 years later, scheduled passenger services were withdrawn. Their return is being championed now by the Northern Devon Railway Development Alliance.
Sunday 17th August: Gala Day at Bideford Railway Heritage Centre https://t.co/QPOZU120tv - cab rides 11am-3pm - and the Railfuture-instigated Northern Devon Railway Development Alliance will have a campaign stall there. Chat with us then, see more here: https://t.co/XF93VVSR7Z
Fun Friday a week ago.
Holding sign right side: North Devon MP Ian Roome + Mayor of Barnstaple Janet Coates, left side Martin Pailthorpe of event host Friends of King's Nympton Station. Sign generously contributed by @DCRailPart
County, district, town, parish Councillors present.
New 15-year Local Transport Plan welcomed by rail alliance.
Regional branch Chair: "This is a vital point of reference for all those campaigning for sustainable transport improvements."
Alliance Convener: "This completes the twin building blocks of regional transport planning."
Welcome news and although "smaller accessibility projects" were included https://t.co/IhCGJ9hONZ they were repeated from May: https://t.co/dxLTmwSYaV with five of the 50 in the government's South West region: Bodmin Parkway, Castle Cary, Dorchester South, Stroud, Yeovil Junction.
Today I welcomed the Government’s announcement that the new station at Cullompton will go ahead - it’s fully funded & will benefit #Exeter too.
Smaller accessibility projects aren’t included in this set of announcements, but I took the opportunity to raise #StThomas station too!
@GWRHelp Welcome addition of 68 carriages to the fleet, enabling retirement of veteran IC125s, return of Intercity trains from regional routes to Paddington services, and welcome replacement of even older 158s and ancient 150s on Okehampton and Barnstaple services: https://t.co/bci2jE2uKH
"At its launch the Infrastructure Pipeline will represent a post-Spending Review 2025 snapshot, providing information on committed projects in government’s capital portfolio" says @hmtreasury 10-year Infrastructure Strategy (para. 1.31).
"Continue to address the over-emphasis on benefit-cost ratios (BCRs) in government appraisal, including by banning the use of arbitrary BCR thresholds as a simple means of determining if something should be funded." Says @hmtreasury 10-year Infrastructure Strategy (para. 1.13).
On this date, in 1872, Bideford saw its 2nd station opening (the 1st in 1855). There can soon be a third, on this site, with support from the community, their elected representatives at all levels, and their officials, and the rail industry. See https://t.co/XF93VVToXx and diary.
On this date, in 1997, the Dartmoor Line saw the first of its four daily @GWRHelp Exeter-Okehampton return services on summer Sundays (May-September), supported by @DevonCC - https://t.co/gUJ3JVhKo6
Now look what's happened: https://t.co/zC0kojHsSg
From little acorns...
As part of our Customer & Community Improvement Fund, we were delighted to award £2500 to Friends of Barnstaple Railway Station.
The grant will help enhance the station’s environment for all rail users as well as create history boards to tell community groups about the station’s history!
More info at https://t.co/6ZUCCJDX4u
#ccif #barnstaple
Individual and affiliated branch members are receiving invitations to nominate and second candidates for vacant post of Chair of Devon & Cornwall regional branch. Closing date Saturday 31 May; subsequent ballot if two or more candidates. Queries: [email protected]
On this date, four years ago, the origins of what created the award-winning ACE Rail campaign (which became the Northern Devon Railway Development Alliance in December 2023): https://t.co/pgMk4APcl5
Watch https://t.co/45ueJaYf1M
The story since then: https://t.co/VxCi0yde3U
Individual and affiliated branch members are receiving invitations to nominate and second candidates for vacant post of Chair of Devon & Cornwall regional branch. Closing date Saturday 31 May; subsequent ballot if two or more candidates. Queries: [email protected]