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Monday 30 Mar 2026

Train services resume between Exeter and Barnstaple following eight days of track renewal work

Region & Route:

Wales & Western: Western

| Wales & Western

Trains have resumed on the North Devon line following Network Rail’s eight-day track renewal in the Crediton area.

On Saturday 21 March, engineers began replacing rail, sleepers and ballast (the stone that supports the track) between Barnstaple and Taw, before moving to the Chenson area last Wednesday to install a second stretch of track.

During the closure of the railway line, more than 80 engineers from Network Rail and Colas Rail worked around the clock to renew 2.7km of track, install 3,000 tonnes of ballast, and lay more than 4,200 sleepers as part of essential upgrades to support smoother, more reliable journeys for passengers.

The closure also enabled Network Rail to complete a programme of important maintenance, including inspections of drainage systems, bridges and other key assets, as well as vegetation clearance and track adjustments to reduce future disruption.

Last week, North Devon MP Ian Roome and Councillor Jacqi Hodgson visited the engineering teams to see first‑hand how the upgrades will benefit local communities and improve the resilience of the North Devon line.

These upgrades form part of a wider package of improvements designed to ensure the continued safe running of the railway and support future increases in train speeds, helping to reduce journey times for passengers. 

Network Rail lead portfolio manager Mark Parker said: “I’d like to thank passengers and the local community for their patience while we completed these vital improvements.

“These upgrades are essential to maintaining a safe and reliable railway for passengers in North Devon and will help to enable quicker journey times in the future.

“We thank partners at Colas Rail for assisting in the delivery of this work, as well as GWR for their efforts in keeping people moving while the line was closed.”