Marsh Barton station back on track

Delayed railway halt serving industrial estate is just £1 million short of funds needed

A planned new Exeter railway station that looked like it may never materialise is back on the cards. At one stage it was envisaged that Marsh Barton station would open this year. But costs rocketed from four million to 13 after longer pathways with smaller gradients for people with disabilities were included, along with other improvements.

Now it’s been revealed that Devon County council has UNDERSPENT on its budget this financial year - so there’s six million pounds spare. Some of that’s expected to be spent on costs because of the recent severe weather.

Lib Dem leader Alan Connett asked whether that could be spent on Marsh Barton station. "It should have been open and fully up-and-running for around six months now, so this is not our finest hour,” he told Devon County Council's cabinet's meeting last week.

The answer’s not necessarily that the £6 million is going to go directly to the Marsh Barton station budget, but Councillor Stuart Barker who looks after economy and skills revealed that funding is almost in place. They’re a million pounds short. He expects to plug that shortfall in the next six months.

Cllr Rob Hannaford, leader of the Labour Group and who represents the Exwick & St Thomas ward drew attention to what he called Exeter's "massive problem with congestion, so anything we can do to tackle it and get the funding is welcome.”

The new Marsh Barton station is an important part of the plans by Teignbridge District Council and Exeter City Council for 2,500 new houses around the area of the Devon Hotel and to help reduce traffic in the city. Marsh Barton station is part of the overall plan to encourage people who live on the edge of the city and in neighbouring communities to leave their cars at home and travel by train into Exeter.

Marsh Barton park and ride is part of that plan too, but came in for criticism in February when some passengers were found to be only riding for one stop before getting off to go to offices and other workplaces on Marsh Barton.