18/10/2026
Please sign the petition to protect our local rail services!
For the second year running, rail services on the West of England line through East Devon have been reduced to a two-hourly timetable for services to Exeter and London.
Last year, this disruption continued for months, and following a record-setting dry summer, there appears to be no end in sight this year either.
These cuts don't just affect passengers. They have a real knock-on effect on our local communities, businesses and high streets.
As a local business, we've seen first-hand the impact that reduced rail services can have. Businesses such as Railway Kitchen and The Ale Way rely on people being able to travel easily to and from our towns. Fewer trains mean fewer passengers, fewer customers and a real financial strain on small, independent businesses.
Our railway is a vital connection for East Devon, supporting commuters, residents, visitors and local businesses. We need reliable services, proper communication and a long-term solution.
✍️ Please take a moment to sign the petition and help make our voices heard.
📢 Please share this post, too. The more people who speak up, the harder it is for our concerns to be ignored.
Let's stand up for our railway, our communities and our local businesses.
Please sign my petition: richardfoord.org.uk/eastdevonline
In Parliament, I described the West of England line as the "Cinderella of the UK railway lines". People stood waiting for a train at Feniton, Honiton or Axminster may well wonder if they are waiting for a pumpkin.
People across East Devon have an hourly service even when the line is running on a normal schedule. It has single track along much of the route, and ageing diesel trains that are under capacity and overcrowded.
I am calling on the Government to invest in our line and give residents the frequent, reliable service they deserve.
Please add your name today: richardfoord.org.uk/eastdevonline
