Avocet Line

UK first as Devon & Cornwall Railcard goes digital

23rd June 2023
David Whiteway (GWR), Cllr Andrea Davis (Devon County Council) and Richard Burningham (DCRP) celebrate the launch of the digital railcard
The Devon & Cornwall Railcard has become the first regional railcard in the UK to go digital. Residents in Devon and Cornwall, aged 16 or over, can now purchase the railcard, download it to their phone and use it to save up to a 1/3 on standard class rail fares. Read more

The GWR timetable change – what does it mean for you?

11th December 2019
GWR train at St Germans in Cornwall - photo by Antony Christie
The GWR timetable change – what does it mean for you? This Sunday (15 Dec 2019) sees the biggest timetable change on the Great Western Railway network since 1976. Journey times will change, with more frequent trains and more seats. Find out what it means for you with our quick summary below. Read more

Onwards travel made easy: Book, Unlock, Drive

6th August 2018
Co-cars vehicle at Truro station and Co-cars car club logo
If you can’t get to your final destination on foot, by bike, bus or train, there is a new solution. Co-cars provide hire-by-the-hour cars at the following railway stations: Exeter St David’s Exeter Central Topsham Newton Abbot Plymouth Truro Falmouth Town Cars can be booked weeks in advance or on the spur of the moment. Read more

Get our free live departures apps

18th July 2018
Devon app screenshot set against backdrop of train on Dawlish coastal route
GWR has funded a pair of DCRP live departure apps to allow passengers to check their train on their phone before they arrive at the station. The apps (one for Devon stations, one for Cornwall stations) are closely based on a similar app from TransWilts Community Rail Partnership. Read more

Foodie Guides

26th June 2018
Launch of Avocet Line Foodie Guide
CASE STUDY | We have launched Foodie Guides for four branch lines to highlight food businesses along each route that champion local produce and sustainability, and to inspire rail travel to the area.

Double national awards success

6th October 2017
Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership team and partners on stage at the Community Rail Awards
The Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership was awarded two first places at the national Community Rail Awards held in Derby on Thursday 5th October 2017. The Carbon Reduction Challenge was recognised in the Involving Children and Young People category and the Seize The Sunday campaign on the Avocet Line won the Marketing award. Read more

Seize The Sunday

9th June 2017
CASE STUDY | When a long-held aspiration is close to being achieved, it’s important to seal the deal – and that’s exactly what happened on the Avocet Line (Exeter-Exmouth) when our marketing campaign led to a 22% jump in Sunday journeys.

Facebook campaign to promote branch lines reaches 390,000 people

19th December 2016
The Partnership has completed a four-month Facebook advertising campaign to raise the profile of the branch lines and inspire people to take day trips by train. Concluding last week, it reached more than 390,000 people and helped to double traffic to our Great Scenic Railways website. Read more

Promoting more frequent Sunday trains on the Avocet Line

15th May 2016
Great Western Railway (GWR) will run extra trains on Sundays between Exeter Central and Exmouth from 15 May 2016. The Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership have launched a Seize The Sunday campaign to promote the more frequent service. Trains will run every half hour through most of the day on Sundays throughout the year, instead of the previous hourly service; with a number extending to Exeter St Davids. Read more

Exmouth schoolchildren ride the Avocet Line to Exeter

7th April 2016
Pupils from Marpool Primary School in Exmouth recently took a free train trip on the Avocet Line which links Exmouth and Exeter, to visit Exeter Cathedral as part of their Religious Education studies. The trip was organised by the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership under their “Train trips for schoolchildren” initiative.  Read more

Discounts for diners travelling on the Avocet Line

8th February 2016
Gastropubs along the Avocet Line from Exeter to Exmouth are offering discounts to diners who travel there by train. We have arranged this promotion to encourage diners to leave the car at home and take the train for a trip out to a well-rated gastropub. Read more

Promoting the Avocet Line

14th December 2015
Celia Minoughan, Project Officer at the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership, is working on a promotion project for the Avocet Line (Exeter-Exmouth) in partnership with the Avocet Line Rail Users Group (ALRUG). Since mid-November Celia has promoted leisure travel on the Avocet Line during off-peak hours, for Christmas shopping and events, walking from the railway and dining by train. Read more

Great Scenic Railways website

3rd October 2015
CASE STUDY | Great Scenic Railways is the Partnership’s tourism-focused website, promoting the branch lines to more than 75,000 tourists and local day trippers each year.

St James Park station makeover

28th March 2014
CASE STUDY | We worked with the Avocet Line Rail Users Group and Great Western Railway (GWR) to organise a clean-up day that brightened St James Park station and created new links with the community.