Partnership-wide news

Celebrating 160 years of Falmouth trains and 30 years of the Friends of Penmere Station

9th August 2023
This August marks the 160th anniversary of trains to Falmouth and 30 years since the Friends of Penmere Station, the volunteer group who look after the Falmouth station, was established.To mark their anniversary, the Friends are holding a Gala Open Day in the station car park on Saturday 26 August between 10 AM and 5 PM.On Read more

Marsh Barton station now open

4th July 2023
Marsh Barton official opening
Marsh Barton station is now open – becoming Exeter’s ninth railway station. A special ceremony was held yesterday at the station attended by Transport Secretary, Mark Harper, in advance of the start of passenger services today (Tuesday 4th July 2023). Opening the station with Mark Harper was Ben Roberts-Mitchell (pictured centre of front row), a local resident who despite having a rare genetic condition has been enthusiastically watching as the station construction progressed. Read more

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

Music trains return to the Tamar Valley Line this month (June)

14th June 2023
For the first time in more than a decade, Music Trains will return to the Tamar Valley Line this month (June).There will be two Music Trains – one on Friday 16, the second two weeks later on Friday 30 June. On Friday 16 June, The Kit Hillbillies will be playing good time bluegrass and acoustic roots music on the 17 33 train from Gunnislake to Plymouth and the 18 38 train from Plymouth to Gunnislake.On Read more

New Summer Sunday Dartmoor bus service

28th May 2023
Summer Sunday Dartmoor Bus - Gunnislake station, Tavistock, Princetown
Did you know? You can now turn a Sunday trip from Plymouth on the scenic Tamar Valley Line into a Dartmoor day out. It’s thanks to a new bus service linking Gunnislake railway station, Tavistock and Princetown on Summer Sundays from 28 May to 24 September 2023. Read more

Large new namesign and garden installed at Pinhoe station

31st March 2023
Pinhoe Community Hub volunteers plant up the new sign and garden. Photo - Pinhoe Community Hub
A large new namesign and garden has been installed at Pinhoe station.The sign and garden have been installed by Network Rail Western Route for the Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership, working with Pinhoe Community Hub, the station adopters.Bradford’s have supplied the bark chippings for the garden free of charge and plants have been funded by Pinhoe Community Hub, thanks to a grant from South Western Railway, and the Rail Partnership. Read more

More CCTV at Barnstaple station

8th December 2021
Additional CCTV cameras have been installed at Barnstaple station in a joint project with the Stationmaster’s Cafe there. 12 new high quality CCTV cameras and a recording system have been installed, improving coverage of the perimeter of the cafe and station.Where Read more

New interactive history trail launched in Crediton

8th December 2021
A new interactive history trail has been launched in Crediton with the aim of encouraging more visitors to the town by train.  The trail has been put together by the Turning Tides Project which is based in Crediton Station Tea Rooms.The Read more

New “Welcome to the Tamar Valley Line” maps

25th November 2021
Attractive new “Welcome to the Tamar Valley Line” maps have been installed at Plymouth and Gunnislake stations. The maps aim to inspire days out using the train. Local artist Ian Pethers who lives close to Gunnislake station drew the maps with additional design work undertaken by local firm Graphic Words.  Read more

Bere Alston old signalbox restored for Scouts’ potting shed

1st November 2021
The old signalbox at Bere Alston station has been restored, thanks to a Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership project. The signalbox is of historical significance and dates from the opening of the Plymouth – Lydford line in 1890.  The line north of Bere Alston closed in 1968 and two years later, the line from St Budeaux was singled resulting in the closure of the signalbox itself on 7 September 1970. Read more

New Looe Valley Line Heritage Centre opens at Liskeard station

1st November 2021
A new Heritage Centre for the Looe Valley Line has opened at Liskeard station. The centre is in three rooms in the Liskeard & Looe Railway Building which is on Platform 3.  The building dates back to the 1901 opening of the line into Liskeard from Coombe Junction which saw Liskeard and Looe linked by rail for the first time. Read more

Double shortlisted for Community Rail Awards

7th September 2021
Community Rail Awards 2021
Two of our projects have been shortlisted for the 2021 Community Rail Awards. Our joint communications and marketing work with Great Western Railway, Network Rail and other partners to promote the upcoming re-opening of the Dartmoor Line (Exeter-Crediton-Okehampton) has been shortlisted in the Best Communications category. Read more

Social Media and Content Officer

6th May 2021
Train on Calstock Viaduct
We’re pleased to be recruiting for an exciting new role at the Partnership: Social Media and Content Officer. The successful candidate will work with us to deliver high quality travel/tourism content. Creating eye-catching and informative blog posts, photos, videos and campaigns, they will inspire even more people to travel on the local rail network.  Read more

New report out today: 600 community rail volunteers and seven local partnerships poised to play a key role in South West’s recovery

31st March 2021
Community Rail in the South West report cover
Members of a growing grassroots rail movement – including in Devon and Cornwall – have continued to strive for communities across the South West and work towards a greener transport future, despite the pandemic, and are looking forward to supporting local recovery. Read more

Improved passenger information at four Cornish rail stations

21st December 2020
Next Train Information screen at Lostwithiel station
Next train departure screens have been installed at four Cornish rail stations to improve passenger information thanks to a partnership between Great Western Railway and the Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership. The £38,000 project has seen screens installed at Looe, Lostwithiel, Newquay and St Ives stations.  Read more

What do the new national restrictions mean for travel?

5th November 2020
St Ives Bay Line by WestBahnFilms
St Ives Bay Line by WestBahnFilms Train services are unchanged and continue running as we enter the new national restrictions, but there are new rules about travel. Here’s a quick explainer: You can travel for the following reasons (taken from Gov.uk Read more

Showing the way on the Tarka Line

31st March 2020
Two pieces of colourful artwork, Direction of Travel signs, have been installed at Tarka Line stations, one at Copplestone, the other at Umberleigh. The artwork was designed by Exeter College of Art students Jasmine Liu and Estha Ferris.  Jasmine designed the sign at Copplestone station and Estha the sign at Umberleigh. Read more

Back to the 50s at Perranwell

26th March 2020
Perranwell station on the Truro – Falmouth Maritime Line has gone back to the 50s with brand new replica heritage signage from the period. The chocolate and cream British Railways Western Region signs were one of the aspirations of the very active Friends of Perranwell Station, following in the footsteps of their counterparts two stations down the line at Penmere.  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

Free wi-fi at Barnstaple station

7th May 2019
Barnstaple railway station now has free wi-fi throughout the station thanks to a partnership between the Tarka Rail Association, Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership and GWR. The wi-fi equipment has been supplied by local company Lineal Software Solutions of The Strand, Barnstaple. Read more