City on track for two new stations

New travel opportunities for Exeter's residents and commuters will be opened up by two new rail stations, which are moving closer to becoming a reality.

Plans for the new community at Newcourt have always included a station, and the scheme now has a green light, with Devon County Council giving planning permission in July, and their successful application to the Government's New Stations Fund completing the funding package. The train service will provide direct links to the city centre and beyond.

Meanwhile, plans are on track for a station at Marsh Barton, which will be especially useful to commuters working nearby. It was one of five schemes recently selected for investment by the newly-formed Local Transport Board for Devon and Somerset.

"This is very exciting for the city," said Councillor Rachel Sutton, Lead Councillor for City Development. "Rail travel has huge potential for taking traffic off the city's busy roads. Exeter will have a total of ten stations when these are up and running; what other city of our size can claim that?"

City Councillors will receive the good news on Thursday (5 September) in a report on transport issues affecting the city. The report highlights the need for a new bus station as the next key challenge, to provide a more fitting welcome for people arriving in the city centre by bus or coach.