General Discussion

Extra trains could mean more visitors

By tina crowson tcrowson@heraldexpress.co.uk RAIL campaigners have welcomed the extra services linking Torbay and the North this summer. Train operator CrossCountry will be redirecting to Paignton two Saturday trains that would normally travel to Plymouth between May 28 and September 10. The extra services will carry visitors to Torbay from Yorkshire, the North East and Scotland. John Hartley, chairman of the Torbay Rail Line Users Group said they had been informed by the operator CrossCountry Trains. "It is exceptionally good news," he said. "The extra summer Saturday trains between Leeds and Paignton as well as Glasgow and Paignton are great news for the holiday industry. "We have established the fact that people like through trains and not having to change, so we now need to make the most of this train service. It must be remembered some people do not have cars, so this is a great opportunity to travel to South Devon by train, using public transport while down here. "Our group will do all it can to promote use of the trains." The new CrossCountry summer timetable includes extra stops at Dawlish and Teignmouth; and Dawlish Warren will be served by a train from Manchester and one from the North East and Scotland. The new timetable provides more than 1,800 extra seats to and from Paignton on Saturdays during the holiday season. Full details of these services will be available shortly at www.crosscountry trains.co.uk.