Exmouth railway station
Encyclopedia
Exmouth station serves the town of Exmouth
in Devon
, England and is 11.25 miles (18 km) south east of
The railway to Exmouth was opened on 1 May 1861. New docks designed by Eugenius Birch
were opened in 1868 and a short branch was laid to connect them to the goods yard.
A branch line with a junction immediately beyond the end of the platforms was opened on 1 June 1903. This ran around the outskirts of Exmouth on a long, curving viaduct, passing through Littleham and then on to Budleigh Salterton
meeting the Sidmouth branch line at where it connected with an earlier line to Sidmouth Junction railway station
. This route was used for through carriages from London Waterloo stationsometimes called the Atlantic Coast Express and also a short while from Clethorpes, which ran via the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway
and Templecombe railway station
.
The original station consisted of a single platform with a track on either side. It was rebuilt with four platform faces, opening on 20 July 1924. An engine shed
was provided from the earliest days on the east side of the station, opposite the platforms. It was closed on 8 November 1963 following the introduction of DMU
services on the line.
The signal box
was closed on 10 March 1968 after which only one train was allowed south of and only one platform of four platform station was required. The station building was demolished and replaced with the present building. A single face (The old platform 2) was opened on 2 May 1986. The eastern side of the station was used for a new road which opened on 10 December 1981; the town's bus station
and a swimming and sports centre are also built on the old station site.
Following the privatisation of British Rail
the station was operated by Wales and West
from 1997 to 2001 and Wessex Trains
from 14th October 2001 until 31 March 2006; operation of the station has now transferred to First Great Western
It was reported in the Exmouth Journal
during December 2005 that Exmouth station could be rebuilt as part of the redevelopment of the surrounding area. The paper printed rough plans of four options, all four provided for a new twin track station (as opposed to the current single track). However local opposition to the redevelopment scheme is high in particular because of the planned new supermarket on the estuary waterfront.
from Exmouth to . Beyond St Davids they generally continue to either or . Connections are available at for and stations to Waterloo; passengers for other main line stations change at Exeter St Davids.
Exmouth, Devon
Exmouth is a port town, civil parish and seaside resort in East Devon, England, sited on the east bank of the mouth of the River Exe. In 2001, it had a population of 32,972.-History:...
in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, England and is 11.25 miles (18 km) south east of
History
Eugenius Birch
Eugenius Birch was a 19th Century English naval architect, engineer and noted pier builder.-Biography:Both Eugenius and his brother were born in Gloucester Terrace, Shoreditch, to grain dealer John and wife Susanne...
were opened in 1868 and a short branch was laid to connect them to the goods yard.
A branch line with a junction immediately beyond the end of the platforms was opened on 1 June 1903. This ran around the outskirts of Exmouth on a long, curving viaduct, passing through Littleham and then on to Budleigh Salterton
Budleigh Salterton railway station
Budleigh Salterton railway station is a closed railway station that served the town of Budleigh Salterton in Devon, England. It was opened by the London and South Western Railway in 1897 but was closed to passengers in 1967 due to the Beeching Axe....
meeting the Sidmouth branch line at where it connected with an earlier line to Sidmouth Junction railway station
Feniton railway station
Feniton railway station serves the village of Feniton in Devon, England. It was opened by the London and South Western Railway in 1860 but is now operated by South West Trains which provides services on the London Waterloo to Exeter route....
. This route was used for through carriages from London Waterloo stationsometimes called the Atlantic Coast Express and also a short while from Clethorpes, which ran via the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway
Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway
The Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway – almost always referred to as "the S&D" – was an English railway line connecting Bath in north east Somerset and Bournemouth now in south east Dorset but then in Hampshire...
and Templecombe railway station
Templecombe railway station
Templecombe railway station serves the town of Templecombe in Somerset, England. It is situated on the London Waterloo to Exeter line from London. The main station opened in 1860 but a smaller station on the lower line opened in 1862. It was closed in 1966 but was reopened in 1983 following local...
.
The original station consisted of a single platform with a track on either side. It was rebuilt with four platform faces, opening on 20 July 1924. An engine shed
Motive power depot
Motive power depot, usually abbreviated to MPD, is a name given to places where locomotives are stored when not being used, and also repaired and maintained. They were originally known as "running sheds", "engine sheds", or, for short, just sheds. Facilities are provided for refuelling and...
was provided from the earliest days on the east side of the station, opposite the platforms. It was closed on 8 November 1963 following the introduction of DMU
Diesel multiple unit
A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines. They may also be referred to as a railcar or railmotor, depending on country.-Design:...
services on the line.
The signal box
Signal box
On a rail transport system, signalling control is the process by which control is exercised over train movements by way of railway signals and block systems to ensure that trains operate safely, over the correct route and to the proper timetable...
was closed on 10 March 1968 after which only one train was allowed south of and only one platform of four platform station was required. The station building was demolished and replaced with the present building. A single face (The old platform 2) was opened on 2 May 1986. The eastern side of the station was used for a new road which opened on 10 December 1981; the town's bus station
Bus station
A bus station is a structure where city or intercity buses stop to pick up and drop off passengers. It is larger than a bus stop, which is usually simply a place on the roadside, where buses can stop...
and a swimming and sports centre are also built on the old station site.
Following the privatisation of British Rail
Privatisation of British Rail
The privatisation of British Rail was set in motion when the Conservative government enacted, on 19 January 1993, the British Coal and British Rail Act 1993 . This enabled the relevant Secretary of State to issue directions to the relevant Board...
the station was operated by Wales and West
Wales and West
Wales & West was a British Train Operating Company that ran services from 1997 to 2001, and was one of the original 25 Train Operating Companies that were set up after the UK Rail Industry was privatised...
from 1997 to 2001 and Wessex Trains
Wessex Trains
Wessex Trains was the primary passenger rail operator in the South West of England. The company operated trains in the region bounded by Penzance, Cardiff, Gloucester, Worcester and Brighton...
from 14th October 2001 until 31 March 2006; operation of the station has now transferred to First Great Western
First Great Western
First Great Western is the operating name of First Greater Western Ltd, a British train operating company owned by FirstGroup that serves Greater London, the South East, South West and West Midlands regions of England, and South Wales....
Description
There is a single platform – on the right when arriving from Exeter. The main station entrance leads to the bus station, but when the station is unstaffed another gate leads directly from the platform into a car park, from where access can be had to the bus station and the town centre.It was reported in the Exmouth Journal
Exmouth Journal
The Exmouth Journal is the weekly paid-for newspaper that serves Exmouth on the coast at Devon, England.It has a separate edition for Budleigh Salterton....
during December 2005 that Exmouth station could be rebuilt as part of the redevelopment of the surrounding area. The paper printed rough plans of four options, all four provided for a new twin track station (as opposed to the current single track). However local opposition to the redevelopment scheme is high in particular because of the planned new supermarket on the estuary waterfront.
Services
Exmouth is served by trains on the Avocet LineAvocet Line
The Avocet Line is the railway line in England connecting Exeter with Exmouth. It was originally built by the London and South Western Railway. The line follows the Exe Estuary for most of its route, giving views of the estuary...
from Exmouth to . Beyond St Davids they generally continue to either or . Connections are available at for and stations to Waterloo; passengers for other main line stations change at Exeter St Davids.