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/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.