Avocet 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, and was historically known as the Exmouth branch railway. The line follows the Exe Estuary for most of its route, giving views of the estuary. The line is named after the Pied Avocet, which live in the estuary.

History

Route

The towns and cities served are:

• Exeter
• Digby
• Sowton
• Topsham
• Exton
• Lympstone
• Exmouth

The route follows the West of England Main Line in the suburbs of Exeter before diverging to the south.

There is a ferry service from Exmouth harbour to Starcross railway station on the opposite shore of the River Exe.

Services

For many years the passenger services on the line have been provided by Wessex Trains, and since 2006 by First Great Western, using Class 150 or Class 153 diesel multiple units (DMUs) either singly or in multiple. However, from December 2007 First Great Western introduced Class 142 'Pacers' and more recently, Class 143 'Pacers' to release other DMUs for refurbishment. Since December 2011, the Class 142 units have returned to Northern Rail.

The section in Exeter is shared with South West Trains West of England services to London Waterloo as far as Exmouth Junction (between St James Park and Polsloe Bridge). The daytime frequency is a train every 30 mins, although trains only stop once an hour at Polsloe Bridge, St James Park, Exton and Lympstone Commando. The latter two stations are request stops.

Infrastructure

The line is double track from Exeter Central to Exmouth Junction, but is single thereafter except for a passing loop at Topsham, where many trains are scheduled to cross each other. All movements on the line are under the control of the signal box at Exmouth Junction, which remotely operates the level crossing at Topsham as well as the loop there.

Passenger volume

Avocet Line

Legend miles Great Western Main Line to London Paddington Cowley Bridge Junction Red Cow Crossing 0.00 Exeter St Davids Exeter St Davids Junction Riviera Line to Paignton also Penzance St Davids Tunnel 184 yards (168 m) 0.78 Exeter Central 1.25 St James Park Blackboy Tunnel 262 yards (240 m) Mount Pleasant Road Halt 1.89 Exmouth Junction West of England Main Line to London Waterloo 2.31 Polsloe Bridge Clyst St Mary and Digby Halt 4.14 Digby and Sowton A379 Newcourt (proposed) M5 Topsham Crossing 6.21 Topsham River Clyst (114 yards) 7.73 Exton 8.18 Lympstone Commando 9.24 Lympstone Village River Exe To Sidmouth Junction 11.29 Exmouth

The busiest station on the branch is Exmouth, which is the fifth busiest in Devon. The numbers of passengers using the line each year have shown an increase in particular Digby & Sowton and St James Park. Comparing all stations on the year beginning April 2002 to the Year beginning April 2010 there are a variety of trends. The biggest increases have been at Digby & Sowton by 157% and St James Park with 105%. The increases in descending order from there are Topsham by 89%, Polsloe Bridge by 82%, Exton by 60%, Lympstone Village by 31% and the smallest with Exmouth by 6%. Meanwhile, Lympstone Commando has declined by 33%.^[1]

References

Railway lines in the South West Primary Cross Country Route Exeter Bristol Cheltenham Great Western Main Line Exeter Bristol Keynsham Bath Spa Chippenham Swindon (fast services calling points only) Secondary To London South Western Main Line (from Weymouth) Reading to Taunton Line (from Taunton) West of England Main Line (from Exeter) Others Atlantic Coast Line Avocet Line Bristol to Taunton Line Cornish Main Line Cotswold Line Gloucester to Newport Line Golden Valley Line Heart of Wessex Line Henbury Loop Looe Valley Line Lostwithiel to Fowey Maritime Line Portishead Branch Riviera Line Severn Beach Line St Ives Bay Line Tamar Valley Line Tarka Line Wessex Main Line Heritage Avon Valley Railway Bristol Harbour Railway Bodmin and Wenford Railway East Somerset Railway Dartmoor Railway Dartmouth Steam Railway Dean Forest Railway Helston Railway Plym Valley Railway South Devon Railway Swanage Railway Swindon & Cricklade Railway West Somerset Railway

Coordinates: 50°40′46″N 3°27′08″W / 50.6795°N 3.4521°W / 50.6795; -3.4521