Network Rail invested more than £3.75m on improving the Tarka Line between Exeter and North Devon during the past financial year, it has been announced today.
During 2012-13, the company has re-laid a total of 3.8 miles of track on the Exeter to Barnstaple line, which it says will improve reliability and performance.
The total investment includes the track re-laying work that has taken place during the recent line closures in November 2012 and March 2013 and drainage works at Colleton Mills, Kings Nympton and Portsmouth Arms.
A representative of Network Rail said: "Our aim is to improve performance, reduce maintenance costs and make the Tarka Line a more reliable, safer and smoother ride for passengers. The improvements, carried out between November 2012 and March 2013, include renewing old jointed rail with modern continuously welded rail – giving an immediate benefit in train ride quality."
The number of journeys made on the line was more than 500,000 in a single year for the first time in 2011, and has increased by more than two-thirds between 2006 and 2011, from 306,169 journeys then to 512,091 in 2011.
The work includes track renewals to provide continuous welded rail and other essential maintenance and repair work on structures such as drainage, bridges and viaducts.
The track re-laying work has taken place with the aim of providing a smoother ride for passengers.
Network Rail said the dates and times of all the works were chosen to minimise the disruption to train services and reduce the impact on passengers travelling on the line.
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