Dear Stakeholder,

Upcoming engineering work between Exeter St David's and Axminster from Saturday 9 to Friday 22 November 

I am writing to let you know that this November Network Rail engineers will be completing a series of railway improvement works between Exeter St David’s and Axminster station.

Engineers will be replacing a mile of rails, sleepers and ballast running through Honiton Tunnel, installing new long life track that will resist corrosion.

Rail replacement buses will be running at the below locations and dates throughout:

Monday 11 to Friday 15 and Monday 18 to Friday 22 November: 

• 1 bus per hour Axminster to Exeter St David’s – calling at Honiton, Cranbrook, Exeter Central and Exeter St David’s.

• 1 bus per hour Axminster to Exeter St David’s – calling at Honiton, Feniton, Whimple, Cranbrook, Pinhoe, Exeter Central and Exeter St David’s.

Saturday 9 and 16 and Sunday 10 and 17 November:

• 1 bus per hour Axminster to Exeter St David’s – calling at Honiton, Exeter Central and Exeter St David’s.

• 1 bus per hour Axminster to Exeter St David’s – calling at Honiton, Feniton, Whimple, Cranbrook, Pinhoe, Exeter Central and Exeter St David’s.

The existing jointed track running through the tunnel is 50 years old and coming to the end of its life, which means its prone to delay causing faults. The new continuous welded rail will be installed to millimetre precision and has better alignment which will make for smoother and more comfortable journeys with less faults.

Taking full advantage of the line closure, teams will also be:

• Rerailing half a mile of track between Pinhoe and Feniton

• Improving track drainage, channelling water away from the tunnel reducing the likelihood of further wet beds forming

• Completing maintenance work at Feniton Level Crossing

• Completing maintenance work at Fenny Bridges Foot Crossing

• Completing vegetation management of carefully selected diseased and dangerous trees between Honiton and Pinhoe

This work is part of an ongoing investment to improve journeys along the West of England line, more information about this work and our past work can be found here.

Over the past month a marketing campaign has been underway, with posters in stations, digital display information and updates on social media. It would be greatly appreciated if you were to share this information to make the public more aware. 

If you have any questions about this scheme or require assistance in the future, please do not hesitate to get in contact.

Kind regards,

Harry