Rail Fest – Barnstaple celebrates 170 years of trains to Crediton and Exeter

Visit Barnstaple between Thursday 1 and Monday 5 August for the town’s celebrations of 170 years of trains to Crediton and Exeter. 

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Starting at Barnstaple station, venues in the town centre will play host to a range of events and activities.  All the venues are an easy 10-15 minute walk from the station.  

Events include two railway exhibitions in the town’s Guildhall (free entrance) and film shows in Barnstaple Library (modest charge).

The historic Pannier Market will have rail themed stalls throughout, alongside the regular market on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and as part of a Victorian Fair on Sunday 4 and Monday 5 (free entrance every day)

There will also be a Railway Heritage Trail where you can collect a special handstamp at each venue.  Free Trail stamp cards will be available at the Station Master’s Café at Barnstaple station (where you can also get your first stamp!).   You can also pick up a Trail stamp card at any other of the other points on the Trail.

All the events have been organised by Barnstaple Town Council with the help of a number of organisations including the Tarka Rail Association and the Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership.

Rail Fest is being assisted by a grant obtained by the Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership from the Community Rail Development Fund, a joint initiative of the Department for Transport and the Community Rail Network.

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Getting to Barnstaple

Barnstaple has hourly trains from Exeter and Crediton seven days a week through beautiful rolling Devon countryside on the scenic Tarka Line. 

Connections are available at Exeter St Davids from Exmouth, Newton Abbot, Honiton, Plymouth and many other Devon towns.   If travelling from Okehampton, change at Crediton for Barnstaple.

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Top tip – Get a Devon & Cornwall Railcard!

Live locally? Don’t miss out on great savings with a Devon & Cornwall Railcard (just £12 a year and now available online). Save a third on many fares for you and a friend. You can also bring up to four children for just £1 each.