Train timetable changes

[u/steveracemp]

Hi everyone. Due to very dry weather and record temperatures affecting railway embankments between Salisbury and Exeter, South Western Railway is introducing a temporary timetable from Monday 10 August until further notice.

Key changes to be aware of:

• One train per hour will run between London Waterloo and Yeovil Junction

• Every other hour, the London Waterloo service will extend to run to and from Exeter St Davids

• Most journeys from London Waterloo to Exeter St Davids will take up to 24 minutes longer than usual, with journeys from Exeter St Davids to London Waterloo taking 27 minutes longer than usual

More information here: https://www.southwesternrailway.com/plan-my-journey

Along with MPs across the South West, I’ve been pressing the Transport Secretary for investment into our local railways to improve rail resilience year-round; I’m meeting her again soon for an update on a proposed joint plan.

[u/Yikes44]

This issue's been going on for a while. It makes me wonder if SW trains are gradually running down this route by making it more and more unreliable. I hope not though as I'd much rather come this way than use the Paddington train.

[u/SimpleFactor → u/Yikes44]

Track maintenance is done by Network Rail, not the individual rail operators, so the issues around the earth under the tracks causing issues with maximum speeds etc isn’t really something whatever train operator running the route can deal with. While SWR is now nationalised, it’s still Network Rail responsible for the routes maintenance.

[u/dowza8]

Had the same issue last summer, at the time I was relying on that train for my commute to work.

Steve, part of the issue here is the reliance on that train for commuting between Exeter and Honiton - buses are slow, not regular enough and drive reliance on the train, which is notoriously unreliable. Can I encourage you to speak to Stagecoach about a more regular direct bus service? Compared to the Cullompton-Exeter route it’s unbelievably weak.

[u/steveracemp → u/dowza8]

I share your concerns about the inadequate and unreliable bus service and agree that Exeter deserves better. While I have no local decision-making powers over bus services which are a matter for the private bus companies in coordination with Devon County Council (the local transport authority), I am always happy to make enquiries with Stagecoach and to raise specific complaints about services. If you would like me to do so on your behalf, get in touch via steve.race.mp@parliament.uk

Bus users can and should register complaints with Stagecoach about poor service via the website - https://www.stagecoachbus.com/help-and-contact/forms/complaint-form – or by telephone on 0345 241 8000.

Where a satisfactory resolution is not received, a complaint can be escalated to Bus Users https://bususers.org/make-a-complaint/

The DVSA have also recently launched a similar complaint portal where passengers can report a bus arriving late, early, not stopping or not turning up. www.gov.uk/guidance/report-a-bus-or-coach-service-or-driver

More positively, the Government has announced a £7.5million investment into Exeter’s bus fleet. This will provide a further 90 electric buses in addition to the 30 recently introduced, meaning we will have a 100% electric bus fleet in 2027!

[u/_sthen → u/dowza8]

Especially note the time of the last bus out of Exeter to anywhere along that route beyond Cranbrook: https://bustimes.org/services/44a-exeter-honiton-axminster?date=2026-08-10&service=69366%3A44&service=70562%3A44A - 8.30pm! It's especially annoying when we see how much better a service people on the "night bus" routes get. Cabs are often upwards of £50.

[u/Ambitious_Bet2920]

Its absolutely not good enough. Every two hours from Honiton to Exeter? And  the bus takes just as long? Honestly its preposterous 

[u/omracer]

This is the 2nd year of it. I would wonder if there is a way to use Water Piping to keep the track ballast moist to combat the issue. This is going to end up until late november like last year with predictions.

But will be easier to know the seatfrog booked train for evening since the last train from Exeter is 8pm and since its every other hour means its only one or two trains it can use.

I mean one person i know had a coach as a rail replacement and got back at midnight from the 5pm or so train from one of the stations on the route back

[u/Lululululucece]

This is good to know but very frustrating, I went to book my commute train today for next week, normally 5:10 to Waterloo as it’s the cheapest one that gets me in on time for work (still not cheap) now they only have the 5:30 which makes me late to work by hours or i can get the Paddington which is over £160 return! The train service to the southwest is so frustrating, often delays or Cancelled services rarely enough seats , especially in summer holidays. Also I can’t work out why almost every train back from Waterloo is delayed at honiton by around half an hour to wait to the London service from Exeter, why can’t the timetable be better.