Officers from British Transport Police are issuing a warning after road signs were placed on the tracks and then struck by a train.
The incident happened at approximately 6.15am on Monday 15 May as the 5.50am Great Western Railway service between Exeter St Davids and Barnstaple was passing through Yeoford.
As the train went around a bend, the driver noticed the signs on the tracks but was unable to stop in time. The train struck the road signs. It is believed the signs were placed on the tracks between 1.30am and 6.15am the same morning.
Alarming new figures from Network Rail and British Transport Police reveal more people than ever are risking their lives on the rail network by trespassing on the tracks in the South West. The data, which looks at trends over the last five years, shows trespass incidents are at all-time high in the region, while nationally one person trespasses and dices with death every hour. Last year alone there were around 553 incidents where people risked their lives on the rail network in the South West – a rise of 14 per cent compared to last year. Research also shows young people are more likely to...
Pupils from Marpool Primary School in Exmouth took a free train trip on the Avocet Line which links Exmouth and Exeter, to visit the Royal Albert Memorial Museum on 30th November 2016. The trip was organised by the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership under their “Train trips for schoolchildren” initiative. This aims to introduce more children to rail travel and is run in conjunction with Great Western Railway, who provided free travel for the children and teachers.
At the museum, which is very close to Exeter Central station, the children from classes Silver Birch and Bonsai...
Heavy rain has flooded the railway at Cowley Bridge, between Exeter St Davids and Taunton. Trains between these stations are currently unable to run.
Great Western Railway are advising customers not to travel unless absolutely necessary. At present, only very limited replacement road transport can be sourced.
Where possible Great Western Railway services between London Paddington and stations in Devon & Cornwall will be diverted via an alternative route where resources are available to do so.
There is currently no firm estimate as to when the line will reopen,...
The railway has flooded between Exeter St Davids and Barnstaple which means trains are unable to run between these stations. This is expected to continue until 18:00 (TUES).
Customer Advice:
At present, no replacement road transport can be sourced, customers are advised not to travel unless absolutely necessary. Where possible, customers travelling towards Bristol Temple Meads or London Paddington are advised to go to Tiverton Parkway where onward travel is available.
You may use First Somerset buses on route 54 between Taunton (Bus Station) and Yeovil (Bus Station...
Passengers travelling through South Wales and the South West over the August bank holiday are being advised to check before they travel as Network Rail carries out essential work to install part of a new signalling system for the Bristol area.
The new system is an important part of Network Rail’s Railway Upgrade Plan to provide a bigger, better, more reliable railway for passengers. It replaces equipment installed in the 1960s and 70s with the latest technology, paving the way for smoother journeys and fewer delays for passengers.
Parents in the South West are being urged to speak to their children as alarming new figures reveal youngsters are twice as likely to trespass on the tracks over summer, compared with winter.
Longer evenings, coupled with the start of the holidays, spell danger for Britain’s youth as UK statistics show trespass doubles in August compared to December.
In 2015, there were 128 reports of trespass across the region during the summer, resulting in 4694 minutes of delays to passengers.
This summer, British Transport Police and Network Rail are urging parents to warn their...
Plans to give rail passengers along the South Western network more trains, more space and faster journeys were today (4 July) announced by Rail Minister Claire Perry. The Department for Transport has published documents setting out how bidders for the new South Western franchise will be required to provide plans for:
At least 95 additional services on weekdays from December 2018.
A doubling of services along the London Waterloo to Reading and Waterloo to Windsor & Eton Riverside routes from two to four trains an hour.
Digby & Sowton station’s 21st birthday on Monday 23 May was celebrated in style with a giant birthday cake cut by Cllr Andrew Leadbetter, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Economy and Transport in an event at the station, which is on the Exeter – Exmouth “Avocet Line”.
Present to help with the celebrations (and eat the cake) were members of the Avocet Line Rail Users’ Group, including Vice Chair Noel Harrison, Anette Grahns of the Digby Community Association and Richard Burningham, Manager of the Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership.
