Starcross railway station
Encyclopedia
Starcross railway station is a small station on the Exeter to Plymouth line
in the village of Starcross
, Devon
, England. It is on the shore of the River Exe
estuary
and is linked to a pier used by the ferry to Exmouth
on the other side of the estuary. One of the South Devon Railway engine houses
, which formerly powered the trains on this line, is situated alongside the station.
on 30 May 1846. It only had a single platform at this time, the second one being added in November 1848. It was provided with a train shed
until 1906 when the station was rebuilt.
Trains were worked by atmospheric power
from 13 September 1847 until 9 September 1848. The engine house
was subsequently used as a Methodist chapel; a youth club; a coal store; a museum of the atmospheric railway; and is currently the home of the Starcross Fishing and Cruising Club.
The South Devon Railway was amalgamated
into the Great Western Railway
on 1 February 1876, which in turn was nationalised into British Railways on 1 January 1948.
Public goods traffic was withdrawn from 6 September 1965 and coal traffic ceased on 4 December 1967. The station became unstaffed on 3 May 1971 and the old station building was finally demolished in 1981. The footbridge, which had been erected in 1895, was replaced by the present structure in 1999.
through the village; the platform for trains towards Dawlish is reached by a footbridge. This second platform also serves as the access to the pier used by the Starcross to Exmouth Ferry
, which forms a link in the South West Coast Path
.
There is a waiting shelter on the platform for trains to Exeter but the other side is open to the elements.
trains in both directions on an approximately hourly basis during the day. Most trains run between and ; on Sundays the service is less frequent and most trains only run between and Paignton. The route from Exeter St Davids through Starcross to Paignton is marketed as the "Riviera Line
".
A few trains run from Bristol
or from London Paddington station, otherwise passengers travelling east or north change into main line trains at St Davids, or at if travelling westwards.
A ferry to Exmouth also operates on an hourly basis during the day, from Easter
to October.
Exeter to Plymouth Line
The Exeter to Plymouth line is a central part of the trunk railway line between London Paddington and Penzance railway stations in the southern United Kingdom. It is a major branch of the Great Western Main Line and runs from Exeter, to Plymouth, from where it continues as the Cornish Main Line...
in the village of Starcross
Starcross
Starcross is a riverside village with a population of 1,780, situated on the west bank of the estuary of the River Exe in Teignbridge in the English county of Devon...
, 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. It is on the shore of the River Exe
River Exe
The River Exe in England rises near the village of Simonsbath, on Exmoor in Somerset, near the Bristol Channel coast, but flows more or less directly due south, so that most of its length lies in Devon. It reaches the sea at a substantial ria, the Exe Estuary, on the south coast of Devon...
estuary
Estuary
An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea....
and is linked to a pier used by the ferry to Exmouth
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:...
on the other side of the estuary. One of the South Devon Railway engine houses
South Devon Railway engine houses
The South Devon Railway engine houses were built in Devon, England, to power the atmospheric trains on the South Devon Railway between Exeter St Davids and Plymouth Millbay railway stations. They contained boilers that provided the power to pumps that created the vacuum to move the trains...
, which formerly powered the trains on this line, is situated alongside the station.
History
The station was opened by the South Devon RailwaySouth Devon Railway Company
The South Devon Railway Company built and operated the railway from Exeter to Plymouth and Torquay in Devon, England. It was a broad gauge railway built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel-Chronology:* 1844 South Devon Railway Act passed by parliament...
on 30 May 1846. It only had a single platform at this time, the second one being added in November 1848. It was provided with a train shed
Train shed
A train shed is an adjacent building to a railway station where the tracks and platforms are covered by a roof. It is also known as an overall roof...
until 1906 when the station was rebuilt.
Trains were worked by atmospheric power
Atmospheric railway
An atmospheric railway uses air pressure to provide power for propulsion. In one plan a pneumatic tube is laid between the rails, with a piston running in it suspended from the train through a sealable slot in the top of the tube. Alternatively, the whole tunnel may be the pneumatic tube with the...
from 13 September 1847 until 9 September 1848. The engine house
South Devon Railway engine houses
The South Devon Railway engine houses were built in Devon, England, to power the atmospheric trains on the South Devon Railway between Exeter St Davids and Plymouth Millbay railway stations. They contained boilers that provided the power to pumps that created the vacuum to move the trains...
was subsequently used as a Methodist chapel; a youth club; a coal store; a museum of the atmospheric railway; and is currently the home of the Starcross Fishing and Cruising Club.
The South Devon Railway was amalgamated
Consolidation (business)
Consolidation or amalgamation is the act of merging many things into one. In business, it often refers to the mergers and acquisitions of many smaller companies into much larger ones. In the context of financial accounting, consolidation refers to the aggregation of financial statements of a group...
into the Great Western Railway
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
on 1 February 1876, which in turn was nationalised into British Railways on 1 January 1948.
Public goods traffic was withdrawn from 6 September 1965 and coal traffic ceased on 4 December 1967. The station became unstaffed on 3 May 1971 and the old station building was finally demolished in 1981. The footbridge, which had been erected in 1895, was replaced by the present structure in 1999.
Description
Access to the platform for trains towards Exeter is up a few steps from the main A379 roadA379 road
The A379 is a road in the English county of Devon. It links points on the edges of that county's two principal cities, Exeter and Plymouth, by an indirect and largely coastal route....
through the village; the platform for trains towards Dawlish is reached by a footbridge. This second platform also serves as the access to the pier used by the Starcross to Exmouth Ferry
Exmouth to Starcross Ferry
The Exmouth to Starcross Ferry is a passenger ferry which crosses the mouth of the River Exe in the English county of Devon. It links the town of Exmouth on the eastern side of the Exe estuary to the village of Starcross on the western side. The ferry is operated by Exe to Sea Cruises.The ferry...
, which forms a link in the South West Coast Path
South West Coast Path
The South West Coast Path is Britain's longest waymarked long-distance footpath and a National Trail. It stretches for , running from Minehead in Somerset, along the coasts of Devon and Cornwall, to Poole Harbour in Dorset. Since it rises and falls with every river mouth, it is also one of the more...
.
There is a waiting shelter on the platform for trains to Exeter but the other side is open to the elements.
Services
Starcross is served by First Great WesternFirst 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....
trains in both directions on an approximately hourly basis during the day. Most trains run between and ; on Sundays the service is less frequent and most trains only run between and Paignton. The route from Exeter St Davids through Starcross to Paignton is marketed as the "Riviera Line
Riviera Line
The Riviera Line is a local railway line that connects the city of Exeter to the "English Riviera" resorts of Torbay in Devon, England. It is closely linked with the Exeter to Plymouth Line with which it shares the route along the South Devon sea wall...
".
A few trains run from Bristol
Bristol Temple Meads railway station
Bristol Temple Meads railway station is the oldest and largest railway station in Bristol, England. It is an important transport hub for public transport in Bristol, with bus services to various parts of the city and surrounding districts, and a ferry service to the city centre in addition to the...
or from London Paddington station, otherwise passengers travelling east or north change into main line trains at St Davids, or at if travelling westwards.
A ferry to Exmouth also operates on an hourly basis during the day, from Easter
Easter
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
to October.