Promoting more frequent Sunday trains on the Avocet Line

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. All trains will call at Digby & Sowton, Newcourt, Topsham and Lympstone Village stations. Morning trains to Exmouth and afternoon trains back will also call at Polsloe Bridge, providing more opportunities for a seaside day trip to Exmouth.

The improved Sunday service is an important step forward in meeting the Avocet Line Rail Users’ Group (ALRUG)’s long held aspiration for a full half-hourly Sunday timetable on the line.
ALRUG Chair Mike Reddaway said:

We have observed a steady rise in passenger numbers on Sundays over the past few years, creating a demand. We are delighted that trains will be running every half hour all year round, to give passengers more choice on when to travel to work or play.

GWR is working with the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership and ALRUG to encourage local residents to make the most of the extra Sunday services. Ideas for what to do on a Sunday day trip by train can be found at the new Seize The Sunday website. These include going for a Sunday roast at Topsham and other local “foodie” pubs and music nights out in Exeter and Exmouth. The Partnership is also helping promote travel by train to some of the great local events this summer such as Exmouth Festival 27 May-5 June and River Exe Regatta at Lympstone on Sunday 17th July.

GWR Regional Development Manager Dan Okey said:

Helping to support the local community and businesses we serve, I am delighted to announce these extra Sunday services on the Avocet Line. A half-hourly service is a long held aspiration and we are delighted to be able to take another significant step towards delivering this improvement; and offering good value when compared with the cost of driving and parking.

Celia Minoughan, Project Officer at the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership said:

We encourage everyone to leave the car at home and enjoy a great day out by train. There’s so much to do on a Sunday and it’s great value too.

For information about train times, visit www.gwr.com.

The Seize The Sunday marketing campaign is part funded by the Designated Community Rail Development Fund. The Fund is backed by the Department for Transport and ACoRP, the Association of Community Rail Partnerships.