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Bideford and Barnstaple to Exeter diary

Wed, 13 May 2026 13:22:06 +0000

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May - "GWR nationalisation: will it make any difference for the Tarka Line?" asks North Devon Today, on the 11th. Tim Steer, chair of Railfuture's Devon and Cornwall regional branch and a Tarka Line campaigner, urges readers not to expect immediate change.

+ >
May - "Rail link revival ‘excellent idea’ but it ‘remains complicated’" says a Devon County and North Devon District Councillor, mentioning the campaigning by the Northern Devon Railway Development Alliance, in the North Devon Gazette (online subscriber edition) on the 13th. Inside, "Rail minister hints at Tarka Line help" as North Devon MP Ian Roome expresses hope to meet the government’s Rail Minister to press for action on the Tarka Line, and "Rail line action" heads a brief letter, coincidentally and inadvertently drawing attention to the subject of Railfuture Devon & Cornwall's press release!>
May - "GWR nationalisation: will it make any difference for the Tarka Line?" asks North Devon Today, on the 11th. Tim Steer, chair of Railfuture's Devon and Cornwall regional branch and a Tarka Line campaigner, urges readers not to expect immediate change.

Railfuture in the news

Wed, 13 May 2026 13:10:19 +0000

+
+ 13th May - North Devon Gazette (online subscriber edition)
+
+ "Rail link revival ‘excellent idea’ but it ‘remains complicated’" says a Devon County and North Devon District Councillor, mentioning the campaigning by the Northern Devon Railway Development Alliance.
+ "Rail minister hints at Tarka Line help" as North Devon MP Ian Roome expresses hope to meet the government’s Rail Minister to press for action on the Tarka Line.
+ "Rail line action" heads a brief letter, coincidentally and inadvertently drawing attention to the subject of Railfuture Devon & Cornwall's press release!

Devon and Cornwall Branch

Wed, 13 May 2026 11:00:40 +0000

- The Mid-Cornwall Metro is set to improve rail journeys within Cornwall, since it secured Levelling-Up funding in January 2023. See "Millions awarded to transform transport links in the South West" and "Network Rail welcomes new funding in rail for the south west." In mid-December 2023 Cornwall Council's Cabinet gave the green light for Mid-Cornwall Metro; details in Agenda item 7 and Minute CAB/324. In August 2024 Newquay residents had a letter from Network Rail about 3 months' work preparing for reinstatement of the station's second platform leading to a doubling, to hourly, of services to and from Par starting in May 2025. September 2024 brought confirmation that work had started. Additional services begin from the start of the timetable change on Sunday 17th May 2026; for full details see timetable K3.
+ The Mid-Cornwall Metro is set to improve rail journeys within Cornwall, since it secured Levelling-Up funding in January 2023. See "Millions awarded to transform transport links in the South West" and "Network Rail welcomes new funding in rail for the south west." In mid-December 2023 Cornwall Council's Cabinet gave the green light for Mid-Cornwall Metro; details in Agenda item 7 and Minute CAB/324. In August 2024 Newquay residents had a letter from Network Rail about 3 months' work preparing for reinstatement of the station's second platform leading to a doubling, to hourly, of services to and from Par starting in May 2025. September 2024 brought confirmation that work had started. Additional services begin from the start of the timetable change on Sunday 17th May 2026; for full details see timetable K3. See Railfuture's press release "Metro networks growing in the South West" - Devon & Cornwall regional branch chair, Tim Steer, comments on the start of services and wider lessons.
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Devon & Cornwall ACE Rail campaign - Facebook absorbed by Northern Devon Railway Development Alliance, below (see also BRHC Ace Rail)

Ashburton RUG (contact via Exeter & Teign Valley Railway)

Avocet Line RUG (ALRUG)

Combe Rail

Connect Bude - also Facebook

Dartmoor Railway Association

Exeter & Teign Valley Railway

Heathfield Rail Link Association

Ivybridge Rail Users Group

Launceston Town Council

North Devon Line - Rail Promotion Group (formerly Tarka Rail Association)

Northern Devon Railway Development Alliance - see Bideford and Barnstaple to Exeter

Northern Route Working Group

OkeRail

Salisbury-Exeter Rail Users Group (SERUG)

TavyRail (formerly Peninsula Rail Group)

Torbay RUG - buzzer12 at btinternet.com (Roger Dixon)

Totnes RUG - plagerson at bridgetown.eclipse.co.uk

and in Railfuture's Regional Lists of Rail User Groups, and Reopening Campaigns. The Regional List of RUGs, and the list of all RoCs, can be viewed, or downloaded in PDF format here.
+
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Devon & Cornwall ACE Rail campaign - Facebook absorbed by Northern Devon Railway Development Alliance, below (see also BRHC Ace Rail)

Ashburton RUG (contact via Exeter & Teign Valley Railway)

Avocet Line RUG (ALRUG)

Combe Rail

Connect Bude - also Facebook

Dartmoor Railway Association

Exeter & Teign Valley Railway

Heathfield Rail Link Association

Ivybridge Rail Users Group

Launceston Town Council

North Devon Line - Rail Promotion Group (formerly Tarka Rail Association)

Northern Devon Railway Development Alliance - see Bideford and Barnstaple to Exeter

Northern Route Working Group

OkeRail

Salisbury-Exeter Rail Users Group (SERUG)

TavyRail (formerly Peninsula Rail Group)

Torbay RUG - buzzer12 at btinternet.com (Roger Dixon)

Totnes RUG - plagerson at bridgetown.eclipse.co.uk

and in Railfuture's Regional Lists of Rail User Groups, and Reopening Campaigns. The Regional List of RUGs, and the list of all RoCs, can be viewed, or downloaded in PDF format here.

Press releases

Wed, 13 May 2026 10:55:25 +0000

+
+ 13th May - "Metro networks growing in the South West" - Railfuture’s Devon & Cornwall regional branch chair, Tim Steer, comments on start of Mid-Cornwall Metro services.

Thames Valley Branch

Wed, 13 May 2026 09:48:29 +0000

- Next branch event / AGM:
12 May 2026. Tuesday. Thames Valley regional branch open meeting with guest speaker Pete Brunskill, (Rail Development Lead, Place Shaping Service, Economy and Place Directorate) Oxfordshire County Council. Also brief formal AGM. Venue: West Oxford Community Centre (Mary Town room), Botley Road, Oxford OX2 0BT. 19:00-21:00.
+ Recent branch event / AGM:
12 May 2026. Tuesday. Thames Valley regional branch open meeting with guest speaker Pete Brunskill, (Rail Development Lead, Place Shaping Service, Economy and Place Directorate) Oxfordshire County Council. Also brief formal AGM. Venue: West Oxford Community Centre (Mary Town room), Botley Road, Oxford OX2 0BT. 19:00-21:00. See Pete's presentation.
- ~~Mos~~t recent branch events:
+ Other recent branch events:

Events

Tue, 12 May 2026 20:43:44 +0000

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- 12 May 2026. Tuesday. Consultation event for East West Rail. Venue: The Kings Centre, Osney Mead, Oxford, OX2 0ES. 11:00-18:00.
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- 12 May 2026. Tuesday. Thames Valley regional branch open meeting with guest speaker Pete Brunskill, (Rail Development Lead, Place Shaping Service, Economy and Place Directorate) Oxfordshire County Council. Also brief formal AGM. Venue: West Oxford Community Centre (Mary Town room), Botley Road, Oxford OX2 0BT. 19:00-21:00. More info: Rf-TV
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- 12 May 2026. Tuesday. Chesham & District Transport Users' Group meeting. Venue: Chesham Town Hall, Parsonage Lane, Chesham, Bucks, HP5 1EP. 19.30. More info: CDTUG
- 21 May 2026. Thursday. Railfuture London & South East regional branch, London Metro division meeting. Venue: Alan Baxter Gallery, 75 Cowcross Street, Farringdon, London EC1M 6EL. 19:00. More info: Rf-LSE-LM
+ 21 May 2026. Thursday. Railfuture London & South East regional branch, London Metro division meeting with Paul Best, Senior Strategic Planner; his topic is "Making the most of London's constrained network". Venue: Alan Baxter Gallery, 75 Cowcross Street, Farringdon, London EC1M 6EL. 19:00. More info: Rf-LSE-LM
+
+
+ 20 June 2026. Saturday. Railfuture London & South East regional branch, Herts & Beds division in person social at the Bricket Wood Tearoom: More info: Rf-L&SE-H&B
+
+
+ 30 July 2026. Wednesday. Railfuture London & South East regional branch, Herts & Beds division ONLINE. 19:30: More info: Rf-L&SE-H&B
+
+
+ 27 August 2026. Thursday. Railfuture London & South East regional branch, Herts & Beds division ONLINE. 19:30: More info: Rf-L&SE-H&B

Herts and Beds

Tue, 12 May 2026 20:36:32 +0000

- Zoom has been working well as a means of keeping in touch and abreast of developments on the railway, with GTR, Herts CC & Luton BC representatives and colleagues from neighbouring East Anglia, East Midlands and Thames Valley branches regularly participating. Email the Herts & Beds Division Convener Neil Middleton - neil.middleton@railfuture.org.uk - for an invite and to be added to the local email distribution list.
+
Saturday 20th June - In Person ‘social’ from 11:00 at Bricket Wood Tea Roomli>
Wednesday 30th July at 19:30 on Zoom
Thursday 27th August at 19:30 on Zoom
Saturday 26th September in person from 11:00 at St Paul's Church, Hatfield Road, St Albans, followed by a 'social' lunch.

>Zoom has been working well as a means of keeping in touch and abreast of developments on the railway, with GTR, Herts CC & Luton BC representatives and colleagues from neighbouring East Anglia, East Midlands and Thames Valley branches regularly participating. Email the Herts & Beds Division Convener Neil Middleton - neil.middleton@railfuture.org.uk - for an invite and to be added to the local email distribution list.
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April 2026 edition view or download.
+ >
May 2026 edition view or download.>
April 2026 edition view or download.

London and South East

Tue, 12 May 2026 20:33:49 +0000

+
+
Meeting of Metro Division

+ Thursday 21 May, 2026. Venue: Alan Baxter Gallery, 75 Cowcross Street, Farringdon, London EC1M 6EL. 19:00 - Guest Speaker, Paul Best, Senior Strategic Planner, Network Rail on "Making the most of London's constrained network".
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London and South East Abbey Flyer User's Group (ABFLY)

Association of Public Transport Users (APTU) (Thameslink North)

Bedford Commuters' Association (BCA)

Bishopstone Station, Friends of

Cambridge Heath and London Fields Rail Users’ Group (CHLFRUG)

Cooksbridge Station Partnership (CSP)

East Surrey Transport Committee (ESTC) - king.charles at talktalk.net

Edenbridge & District Rail Travellers’ Association (EDRTA) - bob.howes271 at btinternet.com

Hadley Wood Rail User Group (HWRUG)

Hatfield Association of Rail Travellers (HART) - hatfield.rail at gmail.com

Marsh Link Action Group (MLAG)

Marylebone Travellers' Association (MTA) - nick.leake at btinternet.com

Ore Transport Group (OTG) - trevor.d2016 at outlook.com

Plumstead Rail Users' Group (PRUG)

Reigate, Redhill & District Rail Users Association (RRDRUA)

Sevenoaks Rail Travellers Association (SRTA)

Tonbridge Line Commuters (TLC)

Watford Rail Users’ Group (WRUG) - wrug2 at hotmail.co.uk

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London and South East Abbey Flyer User's Group (ABFLY)

Association of Public Transport Users (APTU) (Thameslink North)

Bedford Commuters' Association (BCA)

Bishopstone Station, Friends of

Cambridge Heath and London Fields Rail Users’ Group (CHLFRUG)

Cooksbridge Station Partnership (CSP)

East Surrey Transport Committee (ESTC) - king.charles at talktalk.net

Edenbridge & District Rail Travellers’ Association (EDRTA) - bob.howes271 at btinternet.com

Hadley Wood Rail User Group (HWRUG)

Hatfield Association of Rail Travellers (HART) - hatfield.rail at gmail.com

Marsh Link Action Group (MLAG)

Marylebone Travellers' Association (MTA) - nick.leake at btinternet.com

Ore Transport Group (OTG) - trevor.d2016 at outlook.com

Plumstead Rail Users' Group (PRUG)

Reigate, Redhill & District Rail Users Association (RRDRUA)

Sevenoaks Rail Travellers Association (SRTA)

Tonbridge Line Commuters (TLC)

Watford Rail Users’ Group (WRUG) - wrug2 at hotmail.co.uk

London Metro

Tue, 12 May 2026 20:32:20 +0000

- Thursday 21 May, 2026. Venue: Alan Baxter Gallery, 75 Cowcross Street, Farringdon, London EC1M 6EL. 19:00.
+ Thursday 21 May, 2026. Venue: Alan Baxter Gallery, 75 Cowcross Street, Farringdon, London EC1M 6EL. 19:00 - Guest Speaker, Paul Best, Senior Strategic Planner, Network Rail on "Making the most of London's constrained network".

New station successes

Mon, 11 May 2026 08:37:11 +0000

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Magna, Rotherham Tram-Train and Park & Ride stop - opened on 9 April.
+
Magna, Rotherham Tram-Train and Park & Ride stop - opened on Thursday 9 April.

Devon & Cornwall	ACE Rail campaign - Facebook absorbed by Northern Devon Railway Development Alliance, below (see also BRHC Ace Rail)
	Ashburton RUG (contact via Exeter & Teign Valley Railway)
	Avocet Line RUG (ALRUG)
	Combe Rail
	Connect Bude - also Facebook
	Dartmoor Railway Association
	Exeter & Teign Valley Railway
	Heathfield Rail Link Association
	Ivybridge Rail Users Group
	Launceston Town Council
	North Devon Line - Rail Promotion Group (formerly Tarka Rail Association)
	Northern Devon Railway Development Alliance - see Bideford and Barnstaple to Exeter
	Northern Route Working Group
	OkeRail
	Salisbury-Exeter Rail Users Group (SERUG)
	TavyRail (formerly Peninsula Rail Group)
	Torbay RUG - buzzer12 at btinternet.com (Roger Dixon)
	Totnes RUG - plagerson at bridgetown.eclipse.co.uk

London and South East	Abbey Flyer User's Group (ABFLY)
	Association of Public Transport Users (APTU) (Thameslink North)
	Bedford Commuters' Association (BCA)
	Bishopstone Station, Friends of
	Cambridge Heath and London Fields Rail Users’ Group (CHLFRUG)
	Cooksbridge Station Partnership (CSP)
	East Surrey Transport Committee (ESTC) - king.charles at talktalk.net
	Edenbridge & District Rail Travellers’ Association (EDRTA) - bob.howes271 at btinternet.com
	Hadley Wood Rail User Group (HWRUG)
	Hatfield Association of Rail Travellers (HART) - hatfield.rail at gmail.com
	Marsh Link Action Group (MLAG)
	Marylebone Travellers' Association (MTA) - nick.leake at btinternet.com
	Ore Transport Group (OTG) - trevor.d2016 at outlook.com
	Plumstead Rail Users' Group (PRUG)
	Reigate, Redhill & District Rail Users Association (RRDRUA)
	Sevenoaks Rail Travellers Association (SRTA)
	Tonbridge Line Commuters (TLC)
	Watford Rail Users’ Group (WRUG) - wrug2 at hotmail.co.uk