Boost for proposed Marsh Barton rail station

The council has secured funding which covers the current project estimate cost

Marsh Barton railway station was due to open in 2016, but the proposed station, to be built near Clapperbrook Lane, had been hit by delays and rising costs, going from £4.3million to £13million.

The Devon Metro strategy said the station at Marsh Barton would attract rail trips to this major employment centre from a wide area. with 30 per cent from Torbay and South Devon, 15 per cent from the city centre and over 30 per cent from east of the river, and the increased patronage projections meant it was given priority over a new station at Exminster

A glimmer of hope though that the station may be built sooner rather than later was revealed at last week’s full council meeting by Cllr Andrea Davis, cabinet member for infrastructure.

Asked by Cllr Alan Connett to report on the latest on the delivery of Marsh Barton Railway Station, she revealed that the council have finally secured funding which covers the current project estimate cost, excluding contingency.

She said: “Additionally, working with the rail industry, we have potentially identified suggestions to help make further savings on the scheme, providing the needed contingency and this should enable us to proceed.

“Progress is dependent on Network Rail responding promptly to the various technical approvals, experience suggests obtaining these approvals can be very time consuming and complicated. Delays are currently being experienced and the programme is beginning to slip, and potentially cost increases will be incurred.

“In the same way that DfT provided additional support and authority with Newcourt on the New Stations Fund scheme, we have contacted the DfT to assist in encouraging a collaborative effort on the project.”

She added that a re-think of the design of the access to the station has taken place and the council have come up with an alternative solution, which provides additional benefits to pedestrians and cyclists, whilst still delivering the new Station.

But she warned that several challenges are still ahead to ensure that the scheme is delivered, those being securing planning for the revised scheme, gaining rail technical approvals, maximising efficiencies through rail possessions and managing works when they get to site

And under questioning from Cllr Connett, she said that she couldn’t provide an estimated timeline for when a planning application would be submitted and when work may start on site.

Match funding of £8.4million for the station has been found, but unless the station is delivered by March 2021, the Growth Deal funding of £4.37m will be lost.

Asked on the latest with Marsh Barton station, a Network Rail spokesman said: “We are continuing to work closely with Devon County Council to positively develop plans on Marsh Barton station. We will respond to all requests quickly to help deliver the station as soon as possible.”