Media centre

Monday 19 Oct 2020

New longer platform for St James Park station and better railway journey to Exmouth

Region & Route:

Wales & Western: Western

Network Rail will be extending the platforms at St James Park and Lympstone Commando as well as improving track between Exeter and Exmouth over half term week 25 – 30 October

The work will ensure that passengers using the station will be able to travel sustainably and will have better access to trains when alighting and boarding.

The work to replace the track at Exmouth Junction will ensure that people travelling to the south coast will have more reliable journeys.

Mike Gallop, Network Rail’s Western route director, said:

“It’s great that we are able to undertake a number of projects at the same time during closures of the railway.

“We have been working with our train operator colleagues to plan a coordinated work package to reduce the impact on the travelling public.  By undertaking as much work as possible during a closure, we are able to minimise the impact to travellers.

“Whilst carrying out this work during half term may affect some people, the majority of people will be at home and therefore less inconvience is caused." 

Mel Harvey, GWR Station Manager for Mid-Devon said,

‘’This essential work will see the platforms at St James' Park and Lympstone Commando extended, allowing customers the opportunity to take better advantage of the trains we are able to run; as well as vital track renewal work.

We have been working hard to make sure that people can be confident to travel safely, and that includes running as many trains and carriages as we can to make extra room, and replacement buses where trains cannot operate, as well as enhanced cleaning and social distancing measures. 

Please do however, check before you travel and be considerate of others.” 

Alan Penlington, South Western Railway’s customer experience director, said:

“Whilst there’s never a good time to close the railway, half term is historically a quieter time and the works taking place at Exmouth Junction will improve reliability and performance along this this important stretch of railway for years to come.

I realise these works will mean disruption for our customers, however, replacement buses will be in operation and this longer closure will save months of weekend engineering works. I’d like to apologise to our customer for the inconvenience caused and thank them for their patience."