Frustrations as Tarka Line set to close again

A rail service in north Devon which has already been closed for 24 days in 2026 is due to undergo more disruption due to engineering works.

The Tarka Line, which includes services from Exeter to Barnstaple and Exeter to Okehampton, closed on 27 January due to Storm Chandra and did not reopen until 20 February.

Network Rail had said the line would close again from 21 March to 29 March for engineering, which has raised concerns for service-users.

Criticisms have included the line needing more improvements to weather-proof it and rail replacement services taking two hours each way. Network Rail said the work was needed to ensure the track's continued safe running.

Passengers have already voiced their frustrations about delays and cancellations of services, flooding, and overcrowding of trains.

Rob Ward, Barnstaple Town Council Clerk said: "It seems you can have not even necessarily extreme weather conditions and we lose the service".

He said sometimes people could set out and "not know if you are going to get back", which he said was "beyond acceptable".

Billie Stokes, assistant principal at Exeter College, said students had already "experienced significant disruption" and were facing "another spell of academic learning time disrupted in a really key point of the academic year".

Network Rail said it was due to carry out "essential track renewals, structural surveys" and other "vital maintenance" over the period.

It said the work was needed to "ensure the continued safe and reliable running of the railway" while also enabling "an increase in the speed trains can travel along the track in the future".

Mark Parker, from Network Rail, added that he appreciated the work represented further disruption to services.

He said engineers were planning to incorporate as much work as possible within this period, "with other teams completing additional maintenance and inspections while the railway is closed".

Melanie Harvey, from train operator GWR, apologised for the inconvenience and said the work would help main services in the area "for years to come".

Harvey urged users to plan ahead and check travel arrangements as journey times could be much longer.

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