The new Marsh Barton Railway Station will open to the public on Tuesday 4 July 2023.
The £16 million project has been delivered by Devon County Council in collaboration with Network Rail and Great Western Railway (GWR) and built by construction and civil engineering specialist firm GRAHAM.
The scheme has also involved the development of a new pedestrian and cycle bridge, which opened in April, improving active travel links between Alphington, Marsh Barton, and the Riverside Valley Park.
Construction of the station itself was completed several weeks ago but as with all new stations, it has had to undergo rigorous independent assessments, standard checks and safety audits before the station can open.
The station features two fully accessible platforms equipped with:
• Ticket machines
• Smart ticket readers
• Live train departure screens
• Waiting shelters
• Help points
The two platforms are linked by the pedestrian overbridge which has ramps to facilitate cyclists and provide disabled access to the whole station.
Councillor Andrea Davis, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment and Transport, said: “It’s excellent news that the station has passed all of the necessary checks and that it can now open to passengers on Tuesday 4 July. The station will be a huge asset to this part of Exeter, providing convenient access to Marsh Barton trading estate as well as connecting with active links to access other areas of the city.”
The station will be served by hourly Great Western Railway services between Paignton and Exmouth, with half-hourly services at peak times.
The first train service at the new station will be the 0534 Exeter St Davids to Paignton, calling at 0538.
GWR Business Development Director, Tom Pierpoint, said: “New stations such as this are vital in bringing the railway closer to people as we become mindful of the need to live and travel more sustainably. Marsh Barton will help to ease congestion on some of Exeter’s busiest roads and offer a more environmentally friendly option for those who normally drive into the area. Marsh Barton is one of three GWR stations to open this year along with Portway Park & Ride in Bristol and Reading Green Park, and we are excited for the benefits these stations will bring to the local economy, to residents, businesses and leisure travellers in the areas they serve.”
Bogdan Lupu, Network Rail’s industry programme director for the South West, said: “Working in partnership with Devon County Council, GWR and GRAHAM, we are delighted to welcome this brand-new fully accessible station in Marsh Barton onto the rail network. It will unlock better connections to jobs, events, and opportunities for people in Exeter and across the South West.”
Karl Tucker, Chair of the Heart of the South West LEP, said: “It is fantastic to see that the new station at Marsh Barton, Exeter is due to open shortly, improving connectivity for our local communities and supporting growth especially around the west and south of Exeter area, as well as the wider region. We are proud to have supported the project with £4.4m of our Growth Deal fund, as part of our ambition to drive clean and inclusive growth.”
Teignbridge District Council Executive Member for Planning, Councillor Gary Taylor, said: “This is an important step in improving access to South West Exeter for those who travel on the Riviera Line service. The new station gives cyclists and pedestrians easy access to and from trains which as well as helping commuters will boost active travel via the nearby Riverside Valley Park and Exe Estuary Trail.”
Councillor Josie Parkhouse, Exeter City Council’s Lead Councillor for Climate and Ecological Crisis, said: “It is great news that a new railway station is opening at Marsh Barton, allowing residents, workers and visitors to access this busy area using public transport. Everyone is aware of the need to use cars less often in order to lower emissions and reduce traffic pollution, and for that to happen people need access to reliable and efficient public transport. So I very much welcome this development and I look forward to the new station opening shortly.”
Councillor Yvonne Atkinson, County Councillor for Alphington and Cowick, said: “Locals are excited it will be open for the summer holidays. I see cyclists and walkers stopping to admire how beautiful the station is. It nestles perfectly into the ECC/Devon Wildlife Trust Riverside Valley Park which is a haven for wildlife. Now people will be able to enjoy this straight off the train. It is a credit to the partnership between DCC, ECC, Network Rail, GWR and GRAHAM.”
GRAHAM, the construction and civil engineering specialist firm, utilised its vast civil engineering expertise to deliver the station and bridge, overcoming various planning and design challenges along the way.
Andrew Henry, Contracts Director at GRAHAM, said: “We are extremely proud to have delivered this fantastic new station in collaboration with Devon County Council, Network Rail, and GWR. This project presented several logistical challenges, but our innovative approach and strong working relationships enabled us to overcome them successfully. We are grateful to our project team for their hard work and dedication to delivering this important new rail link.”
The scheme is being funded by the Department for Transport’s New Stations Fund, Devon County Council, Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership, Exeter City Council, Teignbridge District Council, Network Rail and GWR.
For more information please visit GWR.com/MarshBarton
