Exeter to London train line closed for three weeks

Image credit: Express & Echo

Railway disruption between Exeter and London is expected for just under a month, with major improvements being made to the route.

Services between Exeter St David’s and London Paddington will be heavily impacted whilst the works are carried out until February 9, but alternative travel options are in place.

Network Rail is renewing the track, repairing the Whiteball Tunnel in Somerset from now until Sunday 9 February and improving drainage.

Because of this, the main line between Exeter and Taunton will be closed. A replacement bus service will operate at Exeter St David’s, Tiverton Parkway and Taunton instead.

Meanwhile, First Great Western will be operating a reduced timetable between Exeter and London Paddington, while some trains services between Exeter and London will be diverted via Yeovil, adding an hour to journey times. David Crome, First Great Western’s general manager west, stated: “While we have worked hard to keep disruption to a minimum, some train times have been altered and we advise customers to check before they travel”.

Morning services are set to be re-timed to allow customers to make morning meetings in both London and Devon. Some First Great Western trains will depart 30-65 minutes earlier than usual on Monday to Friday. The service frequency on the route from Exeter to Penzance will be significantly reduced for both First Great Western and Cross Country, while train times will be altered. Passengers travelling to London, Bristol or Plymouth will need to plan journeys carefully to ensure that they make re-timed connections to main line services.

Conor Byrne, News Team

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Organised Fun!

Emily-Rose Rolfe, Lifestyle Editor, poses as your post-essay party planner

RECEIVING marks for an essay/dissertation is always received with a mixture of trepidation, fear, desperation, curiosity, and speculation. Once you have collated all the marks, the result of blood, sweat, and long hours in the library – what do you do? Giving yourself a pat on the back and a chocolate bar just won’t make the grade. So, whether you’re still slogging through exams and are looking for a light at the end of the tunnel, or if you’re feeling restless but relieved, read on…

Photo Credit – TheJournal

Collate a scrapbook. It sounds like something out of a 1980s American Rom-Com, but it ensures your memories aren’t sucked into the black hole, Facebook timeline. Have an art attack session with a friend or two – cut out photos and captioning them takes you on a trip down memory lane, even if you don’t quite remember the snaps taken after midnight. Enjoy going Regina George on your friends.

Revitalise a trip to the Beach. Cycle to Exmouth, Sidmouth or Teignmouth. This will blow the library cobwebs away and build your bikini body to perfection. Riding a bike is also very-2013, Bradley Wiggens’ Olympic legacy lives on and studies are emerging weekly about the perks of cycling. I look forward to seeing your Instagrams.

Train to run a marathon. Proactive and philanthropic – what’s not to love? Get a couple of your gal pals together and train daily around Exeter’s luscious scenery. Research Devon-based charities and get in touch with them, ask them what running a marathon could do for their team. Devon has a range of well-loved and respected charities. As an added bonus, you can trek through Exeter’s surprisingly good charity shops for a fun fancy dress costume.

Learn how to dance. Celebrating normally translates into partying hard. Why don’t you learn how to move your body properly? Take some salsa, hip-hop, jazz, ballet, or zumba classes and impress your friends after they escape from exam stupor.

Enjoy letting your hair down!

Emily-Rose Rolfe, Print Lifesytle Editor