Severe delays to bus and train travel
There is severe disruption to rail and bus services today as very strong winds and heavy rain continue to hit the South West.
Many of Stagecoach bus routes have been delayed by the weather and at least two routes have been affected by falling trees.
Both the service 2 bus and the D&H Exeter bus are following diverted routes due to roads blocked by falling trees. The D&H bus is not running at the university as a result of the blocked road.
Service B cannot serve part of Trusham Road, diverted via Sainsburys (P&R ok at the moment), Services 4 and 52 cannot serve Honiton High Street, will terminate and wait time at the Railway Station and
Service 4 is also still diverting via Gittisham as the Iron bridge is flooded
The Gold is currently diverting via Newton Abbot and Ipplepen to and from Totnes. Customers should be aware that this will add considerable time to journeys and will disrupt services.
Babbacombe Road, near Lisburne Square has now been re-opened, however services 11 and 32 are still subject to delays and disruptions.
Honiton High Street has been closed, due to an unsafe building. All Stagecoach services are terminating at Honiton Railway Station.
The A35 is closed between Honiton and Wilmington and Service 4 is disrupted as a result.
Paignton Seafront is closed, due to an unsafe building. Service X46 is diverting along Torquay Road and Hyde Road to and from Paignton Bus Station.
The A30 is closed in both directions between Okehampton and Whiddon Down and also at Sourton Cross. Service X9 is disrupted as a result of this closure.
Stagecoach has apologised for any inconvenience caused “due to circumstances beyond our control.”
The weather also means that some trains have to run at significantly reduced speeds to maintain a safe journey while others will be altered or cancelled.
Train companies have advised Customers to only travel this afternoon, if absolutely necessary and to check their service before travelling.
The train line between Exeter St Davids and Barnstaple is not running due to the tracks flooding.
South West trains have confirmed that all tickets dated for today (Monday 23 December) will also be valid for travel tomorrow (Tuesday 24 December), to make up for the disrupted travel plans.
CrossCountry have lifted its ticket restrictions have been lifted for today so that those travelling on the service can get an earlier train.
• Trains between Effingham Junction and Guildford are being delayed by up to 60 minutes because of a tree on the line between Horsley and Clandon
• From approximately 13:00 services between London Waterloo and Weymouth will only run between London Waterloo and Bournemouth. An hourly shuttle will run between Bournemouth and Weymouth calling at all stations
• Services to and from Exeter St Davids / Yeovil Junction will start from / terminate at Salisbury
• Some South West Trains services on various routes between London Waterloo and Reading, London Waterloo and Guildford and London Waterloo and Shepperton via Richmond after 17:00 are cancelled. Passengers are advised to travel on the next available service
First Great Western trains travelling between Exeter – Paignton, Plymouth and Penzance will be running at a restricted speed after 3pm seeing delays of nearly an hour.
From 15:00 until 21:00 a 50 mph speed restriction will be imposed on all lines between Exeter and Plymouth / Paington and as consequence, trains may be delayed by up to 50 minutes.
From 16:00 a 50 mph speed restriction will be imposed on Thames Valley Routes between London and Oxford / Westbury / Swindon and as a consequence, trains may be delayed by up to 35 minutes on these routes too.
CrossCountry has said it is planning to run a normal service today but advises passengers to check their journeys before travelling as services may be subjected to delay or short notice cancellation later this afternoon and into the evening.
CrossCountry passengers may travel on earlier services, as ticket restrictions have been lifted for today.
First Great Western Passengers with tickets dated for travelling tomorrow, 24 December, may travel at any time today instead
Passengers that have been delayed getting to the station, or on other train operators services, and have missed their booked First Great Western service, are permitted to travel on the next service forward, irrespective of the type of ticket held
