Barnstaple line closed by flooding

Gloster · 14 Nov 2025

Snow1964 said:
The affected areas are all north of Morchant Road or Lapford stations (both of which are by A377), so not yet 100% clear why the service needs to be suspended south of these for multiple days towards Exeter.

Possibly the signalling doesn't permit reversing on a single line when line is blocked, or somebody has decided operationally difficult, either of which suggests no contingency planning for part route working when far end of branch is known to be vulnerable.

Normal practice is to block a whole section, which means Crediton-Eggesford and Eggesford-Barnstaple, by taking a token out, which means that a token can’t be issued to a driver to allow a train to run into the section; the token should only be issued if the whole section is clear, which isn’t the case here. That is the whole basis of the system and it is not to be lightly broken.

It is possible to make arrangements to run part way into a section and return, but they are a bit of a rigmarole. I believe that that is what is happening on the Cumbrian Coast at the moment, where trains can enter the St Bees-Whitehaven section to reach Corkickle and then return, but that is a long-term closure and can justify the extra work involved.

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===gricer=== · 14 Nov 2025

cjw714 · 14 Nov 2025

Gloster said:
Normal practice is to block a whole section, which means Crediton-Eggesford and Eggesford-Barnstaple, by taking a token out, which means that a token can’t be issued to a driver to allow a train to run into the section; the token should only be issued if the whole section is clear, which isn’t the case here. That is the whole basis of the system and it is not to be lightly broken.

It is possible to make arrangements to run part way into a section and return, but they are a bit of a rigmarole. I believe that that is what is happening on the Cumbrian Coast at the moment, where trains can enter the St Bees-Whitehaven section to reach Corkickle and then return, but that is a long-term closure and can justify the extra work involved.

I get that they are safety implications that may not be appreciated by those of on the outside but the failure to run a shuttle between Crediton and Exeter does feel frustrating. After all, if I've got this right, trains would only have to go about 100 metres into the 14 mile section between Crediton and Eggesford to reach the crossover over track that is already being used safely by other services.

Gloster · 14 Nov 2025

cjw714 said:
I get that they are safety implications that may not be appreciated by those of on the outside but the failure to run a shuttle between Crediton and Exeter does feel frustrating. After all, if I've got this right, trains would only have to go about 100 metres into the 14 mile section between Crediton and Eggesford to reach the crossover over track that is already being used safely by other services.

To reverse the train you would have to pass the Starting Signal (CN4) and run into the section, for which you must have the token, but the token has been removed by the engineers because the line is under their possession. You could find work arounds and probably would (Network Rail and GWR willing) if it was a long-term closure, but the whole principle of signalling is sticking rigidly to simple rules. Once you start saying, “Oh, let’s just ignore this rule because it is inconvenient at the moment”, you are building up to major problems, as the history of 150 years of accident proves.

zwk500 · 14 Nov 2025

Gloster said:
To reverse the train you would have to pass the Starting Signal (CN4) and run into the section, for which you must have the token, but the token has been removed by the engineers because the line is under their possession. You could find work arounds and probably would (Network Rail and GWR willing) if it was a long-term closure, but the whole principle of signalling is sticking rigidly to simple rules. Once you start saying, “Oh, let’s just ignore this rule because it is inconvenient at the moment”, you are building up to major problems, as the history of 150 years of accident proves.

Do you need the token to reverse between CN11 and CN12 shunt signals at Crediton? I completely agree about the difficulty in setting up a shuttle to Morchard Road.

Gloster · 14 Nov 2025

zwk500 said:
Do you need the token to reverse between CN11 and CN12 shunt signals at Crediton? I completely agree about the difficulty in setting up a shuttle to Morchard Road.

I am not sure exactly what type of signal CN12 is, so can’t be certain but in the old days you needed the token to pass the Starting Signal. One other problem is that the Up train leaves almost simultaneously to the Down, but the turnround would take several minutes, resulting in every Up departure being late, possibly as much as ten minutes.

zwk500 · 14 Nov 2025

Gloster said:
I am not sure exactly what type of signal CN12 is, so can’t be certain but in the old days you needed the token to pass the Starting Signal.

CN12 is a Ground position light signal protecting the single line to Barnstaple, beyond the crossovers (see https://www.cornwallrailwaysociety....-crediton-signalbox-courtesy-of-graham-bowden for a good pic of the panel).
CN11 is a GPL protecting the crossovers from movements towards Crediton station. Unless there were historically more sidings, the obvious explanation for the location of CN11 and CN12 is to permit cross-platform movements at Crediton, especially as CN4 appears to have a subsidiary aspect. CN4 shown in a good shot on this page: https://www.cornwallrailwaysociety.org.uk/latest-input--news--old-pictures-etc/28th-october-2022.

However, I don't know if length may be a consideration as it's possible CN11 and CN12 may have been sited for only a single loco or railcar, and a 2- or 3-car unit cannot fit between them.

Gloster said:
One other problem is that the Up train leaves almost simultaneously to the Down, but the turnround would take several minutes, resulting in every Up departure being late, possibly as much as ten minutes.

Agree this is an issue.

TheLastMinute · 14 Nov 2025

cjw714 said:
I get that they are safety implications that may not be appreciated by those of on the outside but the failure to run a shuttle between Crediton and Exeter does feel frustrating. After all, if I've got this right, trains would only have to go about 100 metres into the 14 mile section between Crediton and Eggesford to reach the crossover over track that is already being used safely by other services.

The Okehampton service is operating hourly through Crediton, running as a 3 or 4 car for most of the day vice the normal 2 car, which I'd suggest isn't a wholly unreasonable provision.

Aside from the signalling issues mentioned above, the additional turnaround time at Crediton wouldn't give enough time for a shuttle to do the round trip to Exmouth Junc in 60 minutes with a single unit. It would need either a second unit waiting outside of Crediton for the best part of an hour, which isn't great for train crew, or terminating at Exeter St Davids which is kind of pointless as that's not where most people want to go.

JUMOUK · 17 Nov 2025

Update today from GWR, sounds like they won’t be reopening until at least Wednesday afternoon…

Network Rail advise that at the moment the floodwater is preventing them from inspecting one of the three locations that were flooded. The level of the water and the speed of the river current will then inform if they are able to deploy specialist divers to inspect the bridges for any damage below the water. If they are able to dive we expect this to be Wednesday morning.

Ashley Hill · 18 Nov 2025

Gloster said:
To reverse the train you would have to pass the Starting Signal (CN4) and run into the section, for which you must have the token

You don’t need a token for a crossover move to the up platform. There is a position light to allow this move.
In times past trains have also worked to and from point of obstruction to Portsmouth Arms and Chapleton with pilotmen (now called pilots).

duffield · 19 Nov 2025

JUMOUK said:
Update today from GWR, sounds like they won’t be reopening until at least Wednesday afternoon…

Actually reopened on Tuesday evening.

Link below to realtime trains shows 2B82 1715 Exeter Central to Barnstaple arriving at Barnstaple at 1833 Tuesday 18th November 2025:

Realtime Trains | 2B82 1715 Exeter Central to Barnstaple | 18/11/2025

Real-time train running information for 2B82 1715 departure from Exeter Central to Barnstaple on 18/11/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

So we can presumably infer from this that the bridge inspections were all completed with no serious issues found.

Bamford · 21 Nov 2025

There's been a lot of disquiet about this locally, including a petition by the local MP and some excellent advocacy by local rail future campaigners. Hopefully means there is some additional investment in the line instead of yet another road scheme getting hundreds of millions.

Benjwri · 24 Nov 2025

I would appear the line has again been closed today.

Djgr · 24 Nov 2025

Benjwri said:
I would appear the line has again been closed today.

Allegedly restarting after lunch unless, I guess, there is a bit of drizzle.

JUMOUK · 24 Nov 2025

Benjwri said:
I would appear the line has again been closed today.

River levels at umberleigh are only about 10cm higher than usual, and 70cm lower than last week. Threshold for closure must be very low somewhere along the line.

Barnstaple line closed by flooding

Gloster

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===gricer===

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Realtime Trains | 2B82 1715 Exeter Central to Barnstaple | 18/11/2025

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