Pressure grows for South West rail improvements as MPs highlight delays and weak links
Report by Duncan Williams for Pulman's Weekly News
Concerns over unreliable rail services across Devon and the wider South West were raised in Parliament this week, with MPs warning that poor connections to London are impacting local communities and economic growth.
Opening the debate, Richard Foord, MP for Honiton and Sidmouth, pointed to ongoing issues on rural routes, particularly the West of England line serving Honiton, Feniton and Axminster. He highlighted a significant gap in performance compared to the wider region.
He said: “Across south-west railways, 82% of trains arrived at their destinations within three minutes of their advertised time, but on the west of England line it was just 61%.”
Mr Foord noted that some delays had even been attributed to “soil moisture deficit”, rather than more typical seasonal disruption.
While raising concerns, he also welcomed progress on plans to reinstate Cullompton railway station, describing it as a key opportunity to strengthen links to London.
He said: “Cullompton and Wellington are the two largest settlements on the line between Exeter and Taunton, so it is right that those towns should be afforded the means to enable the people who live there to walk or cycle to stations, giving them access to London via Paddington.”
He added: “A station at Cullompton will be key to its economic growth, enabling connections for work and education.”
Drawing a comparison with international rail systems, Mr Foord said passengers in Devon are not seeking high-speed rail, but basic reliability.
He said: “We are not asking for the Devon Shinkansen - bullet train - even at HS2 speeds; we just want a route that connects Devon to London Waterloo at the same standard enjoyed by the rest of the country.”
Further concerns were raised by Jayne Kirkham, MP for Truro and Falmouth, who warned that communities further south-west remain heavily reliant on a single line, leaving them exposed during extreme weather.
She said: “Nearly one million people in Plymouth and Cornwall struggle when there is a storm that affects their one line in and out of Cornwall.”
Responding on behalf of the Government, rail minister Keir Mather said reliable rail connections are “vital for connecting people to job, service and leisure destinations” and described them as “catalysts for economic growth”.
He outlined plans for Great British Railways, which aims to bring together train operators and Network Rail to improve coordination and service delivery.
He added: “People deserve access, irrespective of where they live, to all the benefits that the railway has to offer.”
With further details on long-term rail strategy expected later this year, MPs stressed that improving reliability and resilience in the South West must remain a priority.
( Photo: Pulman's Weekly News 📸 )