Rail replacement buses will replace trains between Exeter, Barnstaple and Okehampton from Monday the 20th to Friday the 24th of February in order to allow Network Rail to carry out essential track maintenance work.

The vital work will support the ongoing maintenance of an important stretch of railway and will involve the replacement of track for the Crediton area which sees services travel to Barnstaple and Okehampton.

Rail replacement buses will run from Exeter St Davids to Okehampton and Barnstaple throughout the period of work and this will see travel time extended by around 30 minutes.

A shuttle bus will also be in operation between Crediton and Yeoford.

Passengers who need to travel on the buses between Exeter St Davids and Barnstaple are advised to add extra time to their travel plans and where possible to choose alternate travel options, this is due to double-decker buses not being able to be used because of a road diversion which in turn will limit capacity for the route.

To find out more or to check individual journeys, please visit www.gwr.com/check.

Mark Chorley, GWR Regional Station Manager, West, said: “This work is important to ensure we can continue to maintain and improve resilience and we thank customers for their patience in advance.

“We have been working hard to provide as many replacement buses as we can, but we ask our customers to plan carefully and travel at quieter times to avoid peak-time services which are likely to be very busy.”

All other train routes from Exeter St Davids including Exmouth will continue to run, however, a reduced service will be in place between Exeter St Davids and Exeter Central.

Great Western Railway is advising its customers travelling during the period of work to check their travel plans ahead of making their journey.

Dan Parkes, Network Rail Senior Programme Manager, Capital Delivery, said: “I’d like to thank passengers for their patience and understanding next week while we complete vital maintenance to support the continued safe and reliable running of the railway.

“This is an important and highly popular stretch of railway and our work to replace some of the track in the Crediton area will ensure passengers continue to enjoy smooth journeys between Exeter, Barnstaple and Okehampton.”

To find out more about the engineering works, please visit GWR.com/Upgrade.