Torquay event celebrates big Riviera Line train service improvement

Representatives of Torbay Council, Devon County Council and GWR took part in an event at Torquay station to celebrate an EU Project which included more trains on the Riviera Line which links Exeter, Dawlish, Newton Abbot and Torbay and which paved the way for the current half-hourly local service between Exmouth, Exeter, Newton Abbot and Paignton.

The project which was called Citizens’ Rail was an 9m Euro EU Interreg IVB project and as well as Devon and Torbay included Lancashire and partners in France, Germany and the Netherlands. It ran from 2012 to 2015.

The Devon and Torbay part of the project was a detailed focus on the Riviera Line and the main aspiration as the project started was to at least provide two trains an hour through the day between Newton Abbot, Torre, Torquay and Paignton on weekdays. At the time, there was only an hourly local service.

This was achieved and on 9 December 2013, six additional stopping trains each way were added to the service, four to and from Newton Abbot, with two to and from Exeter St Davids.

When Citizens’ Rail ended, the trains were kept going thanks to Devon, GWR and the Government and then from December 2018, GWR and the Government decided to replace the Citizens’ Rail trains with a full half-hourly service between Paignton, Newton Abbot, Exeter and Exmouth. This continues today These trains also serve Dawlish and Teignmouth.

On launch day in 2013, project partners met at Paignton station with a large banner to kick things off and the event was recreated this year but at Torquay station. Five people were at both events, twelve years apart.

One of those present at this year’s Torquay station event was Cllr Jaqui Hodgson, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Biodiversity who is also responsible for public transport. She said ““It is fantastic to recognise the achievements started 12 years ago and how the benefits can still be seen today with the improved train service still operating. This is making a real difference for residents and visitors every day”

David Whiteway, Regional Development Manager (West) for GWR said “We’re proud to see how the vision of the Citizens’ Rail project has grown into today’s record-breaking service. Thanks to the success of the original pilot, GWR now operates 75 trains each weekday on the Riviera Line—more local trains to Torbay than at any point in history. With a convenient half-hourly timetable between Paignton, Newton Abbot, Exeter and Exmouth, we’re making it easier than ever for people to travel sustainably and enjoy this stunning part of the country.”

Citizens’ Rail was led by the Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership and supported locally by Devon County Council, Torbay Council and GWR. The Partnership is a non-profit partnership between local authorities, the rail industry and the University of Plymouth where it is based.

As well as the extra trains, Torre and Exeter St Thomas stations saw significant improvements, there was a sustained marketing campaign plus a programme of work to link the railway and the community.

The marketing campaign was especially useful in the recovery following the collapse of the Dawlish sea wall in February 2014.

Partnership Manager Richard Burningham was Project Manager for Citizens’ Rail. He said “It is quite something to think it is 12 years since the additional Torbay trains were launched and I am so pleased that they not only continued after Citizens’ Rail but led directly to the full half-hourly Exmouth – Exeter – Paignton service we have had since 2018. None of what was achieved would have been possible without the strong support of Devon, Torbay and GWR.”

Photo – Representatives of Torbay Council, Devon County Council and GWR past and present at Torquay station.   Cllr Nicole Amil, Torbay Council, is third from left, David Whiteway, GWR, fourth from left, Cllr Jacqi Hodgson fifth from left.  Richard Burningham is furthest on the right.