Modern carriages on track for Tarka Line
RAIL travellers in North Devon will benefit from newer, larger trains next year as First Great Western secures the last two available carriages in the UK.
The Barnstaple to Exeter service, known as the Tarka Line, will benefit from modern 153 class carriages which will replace older 143 class carriages on some services.
The 153 class trains boast 46 more seats than the older carriages.
The two new carriages will be used in Devon and Cornwall and were purchased with the help of Cornwall Council, Devon County Council and the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership.
First Great Western said the upgrade was part of a £29 million investment to combat overcrowding by introducing 48 additional carriages across its UK services.
Regional Manager Julian Crow said: "These were literally the last two available carriages in the country so it's great we've managed to get hold of them. We're hoping there will be more to come but this won't be for a couple of years when rail electrification frees them up."
First Great Western Managing Director Mark Hopwood said: "We've seen an ever-increasing demand for travel on our services.
"While that demand is gratifying in one respect, it can lead to overcrowding on peak services, which is why we've been working with for some time to secure additional carriages.
"We have worked hard to put together an innovative deal that really maximises the benefit to customers from the rolling stock currently available."
John Burch of the Tark Rail Association, said: "This is great news for the line because capacity is one of our biggest issues.
"Finally we have got some decent trains to keep us going, we've worked very hard for this."
John said the Tarka line is close to carrying 500,000 passengers every year meaning capacity needs to be constantly increased.
He said: "There will be a point when you can't squeeze any more people into carriages. In the future we aspire to an improved rail infrastructure which will allow more trains to run on the line, though obviously this is a few years away."
8 Comments
by TomEX39
Monday, December 05 2011, 11:47PM
“I drive from Barnstaple to Exeter regularly and never use the Link Road - I find the A377 quicker - far more direct and must lighter traffic. The road itself is slower but when you see a map it must be literally half the distance of A361 + M5, you're practically in Somerset by the time you reach the M5.”
by David361
Monday, December 05 2011, 7:55PM
“Quintonne - two or three years ago I would have agreed that driving was a no brainer. But with increased congestion on the link road, the M5 and in Exeter, the train is quicker. With Exeter's rediculous parking charges, the price of fuel and the relatively cheap parking at Barnstaple Station (particularly on weekends), the train is cheaper. And with the standard of driving on the roads now, the train is less stressful.
Yes, it would be nice for every town in north Devon to get its railway back, but it isn't cheap. Reopening the Barnstaple to Bideford line alone, bearing in mind that no demolition is required and the only major works needed are to tunnel under the bypass (a very short sighted decision not to have one already!) and to move the Tarka Trail, would cost over £80million. Compare to the Western Bypass which cost a little over £40 million, including the bridge. That's why the railways haven't been reopened.”
by quinntonne
Sunday, December 04 2011, 7:53PM
“They have a cheek calling this a North Devon rail service... Bideford, ilfracombe, Torrington and South Molton are among the places not served at all. Umberleigh and Barnstaple are the nonly places that are. Therefore to use this "Service"you have to travel to either Barnstaple where parking charges are attrocious or umberleigh where there is no parking at all. So you will either have to suffer high parking charges or rely on the equally pathetic bus "Service" or use a taxi... From ilfracombe ( The second biggest town in North Devon ) to Exeter you will have to take a bus (45 mins and £3.50 return) then catch the train from Barnstaple £8.40 and 60 mins to Exeter. This is only if they don't cancel a bus or train willy nilly.
God help you if you don't live near a bus route to Barnstaple or Umberleigh... Drive, it's quicker, cheaper and more reliable and a lot less stressful.”
by quinntonne
Sunday, December 04 2011, 6:48PM
“North Devon isn't served by rail... Bideford, Great torrington, Ilfracombe, South and North molton, None of these towns have rail. Pathetic service...”
by Brizz_Tony
Friday, December 02 2011, 8:50PM
“Nicely cleared up, thanks, David. A shame that the provinces have to make do with hand-me-downs, it would be nice to see a brand new train without having to go to London, but no matter! These will help, and, as you say, when Bristol gets electirified, there may be more to spare, unless the Portishead line needs them. It's good to see an improvement to rail services locally. Okehampton daily next?”
by David361
Thursday, December 01 2011, 11:45PM
“It is a very poorly written article, so here's a brief guide to what's actually happening.
- Two extra Class 153 trains are going to be used in Devon and Cornwall. One will work on the Truro to Falmouth line, and the other will work in the Exeter area, serving Paignton, Exmouth and Barnstaple. It is not exclusively for the Tarka Line.
- The one Class 153 train for Devon will not replace any 143 trains, but instead will be used alongside the 143 and 150 units, so some two-car trains will become three-car with the new unit.
- As Knockdeep points out, the 153 trains are only a couple of years newer than the 143 trains, but they are of far superior quality so are more comfortable and reliable.
- The new carriages are all part of what's called a stock cascade. London Midland have new Class 172 trains, so their class 150 have mostly replaced the 142's in Devon, with another unit replacing the two 153 trains in Bristol. These 153 units are what we're getting, so oddly whilst the 153's are extra capacity in Devon and Cornwall, they're already used by First Great Western.
So whilst we're not getting brand new stock, it is still good news. And with electrification of the GWML and other schemes up north, and a potential change in the runner of the franchise, we could see even newer trains down this way before too long.”
by Brizz_Tony
Thursday, December 01 2011, 6:19PM
“Well, I think it's better news than no news. Hopefully, more and newer will come soon. In the meantime, I shall start saving for a ticket.”
by Knockdeep
Thursday, December 01 2011, 1:58PM
“The class 143 built 1985 being replaced with modern class 155 coaches built 1987. They are
not new, modern, nor have they been purchased. This abysmal piece of amateur journalism
must not detract from some good news for the line. John Burch and the Tarka line association
show what can be done when the local community support their local services. Well done to them.
If First group were serious about providing a service brand new class 172 trains would be
rolling off the production in Derby supporting UK train production rather than them finding
the last 2 coaches in the country.”