Starcross railway station

Coordinates: 50°37′41″N 3°26′53″W / 50.628°N 3.448°W / 50.628; -3.448
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Starcross
National Rail
View from the north
General information
LocationStarcross, Teignbridge, Devon,
England
Coordinates50°37′41″N 3°26′53″W / 50.628°N 3.448°W / 50.628; -3.448
Grid referenceSX976819
Managed byGreat Western Railway
Platforms2
Other information
Station codeSCS
ClassificationDfT category F2
History
Original companySouth Devon Railway
Pre-groupingGreat Western Railway
Post-groupingGreat Western Railway
Key dates
Opened1846
Passengers
2018/19Decrease 116,170
2019/20Decrease 111,744
2020/21Decrease 38,644
2021/22Increase 90,972
2022/23Increase 107,120
Notes
Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

Starcross is a small station on the Exeter to Plymouth line in the village of Starcross, Devon, England. It is 8 miles 44 chains (13.8 km) down the line from Exeter St Davids and 202 miles 36 chains (325.8 km) from London Paddington, via Box.[1] The station is managed by Great Western Railway, which operates all trains serving it. One of the South Devon Railway engine houses, which formerly powered the trains on this line, is situated alongside the station.

History[edit]

The South Devon Railway opened the station on 30 May 1846.[2] It only had a single platform at this time, the second one being added in November 1848. It was provided with a train shed until 1906 when the station was rebuilt.[3]

The station became unstaffed on 3 May 1971 and the old station building was finally demolished in 1981.[4] The footbridge, which had been erected in 1895, was replaced by the present structure in 1999.

Platform layout and facilities[edit]

Access to the platform for trains towards Exeter is up a few steps from the main A379 road through the village; the platform for trains towards Dawlish is reached by a footbridge.

There is a waiting shelter on the platform for trains to Exeter but the other side is open to the elements.

The platform for trains to Paignton also serves as the access to the pier used by the Starcross to Exmouth Ferry, which forms a link in the South West Coast Path. It operates on an hourly basis during the day, from Easter to October.[5]

Services[edit]

Great Western Railway Class 153s arriving from Exeter

Starcross is served by Great Western Railway trains in both directions on an approximately hourly basis during the day (with extras at peak periods).[6] Most trains run between Exmouth and Paignton; on Sundays the service is less frequent and most trains only run between Exeter St Davids and Paignton. The route from Exeter St Davids through Starcross to Paignton is marketed as the "Riviera Line".

A few trains run from Bristol to Plymouth and beyond, otherwise passengers travelling east or north change into main line trains at St Davids or at Newton Abbot if travelling westwards.

There is one direct service in the morning to London Paddington with a return service in the evening. These services operate Mondays to Fridays only. The morning service to London runs via Bristol and the evening return runs via the Reading to Taunton line.

Preceding station National Rail National Rail Following station
Marsh Barton   Great Western Railway
Riviera Line
  Dawlish Warren
"boat icon" Ferry services
Terminus   Exmouth to Starcross
ferry(seasonal)
  Exmouth Marina

References[edit]

  1. ^ Padgett, David (June 2018) [1989]. Munsey, Myles (ed.). Railway Track Diagrams 3: Western & Wales (6th ed.). Frome: Trackmaps. map 8B. ISBN 978-1-9996271-0-2.
  2. ^ Gregory, R H (1982). The South Devon Railway. Salisbury: Oakwood Press. ISBN 0-85361-286-2.
  3. ^ Kay, Peter (1991). Exeter - Newton Abbot: A Railway History. Sheffield: Platform 5 Publishing. ISBN 1-872524-42-7.
  4. ^ Oakley, Mike (2007). Devon Railway Stations. Wimbourne: The Dovecote Press. ISBN 978-1-904349-55-6.
  5. ^ "Exmouth to Starcross Ferry". Exe to Sea Cruises. Retrieved 7 June 2007.
  6. ^ Table 135 National Rail timetable, May 2016

Further reading[edit]

  • Beck, Keith; Copsey, John (1990). The Great Western in South Devon. Didcot: Wild Swan Publication. ISBN 0-906867-90-8.
  • Cooke, RA (1984). Track Layout Diagrams of the GWR and BR WR, Section 14: South Devon. Harwell: RA Cooke.
This station offers access to the South West Coast Path
Distance to path 0 yards
Next station anticlockwise Exmouth 0.5 miles (0.80 km) (plus ferry)
Next station clockwise Dawlish Warren 2 miles (3.2 km)