Avocet Line
| Exeter-Exmouth "Avocet" Line |
| Principal stations (from north to south) Exeter St Davids |
The Avocet Line is the railway line from Exeter to Exmouth, UK. The line follows the Exe Estuary for most of its route, giving views of the estuary. The line is named after the Pied Avocet, which live in the estuary.
The stations served by the route are listed below. The route follows the West of England Main Line in the suburbs of Exeter before diverging to the south.
- Exeter St Davids
- Exeter Central
- Exeter St James Park
- West of England Main Line continues to Yeovil Junction, Salisbury and London Waterloo.
- Polsloe Bridge
- Digby & Sowton
- Topsham
- Exton
- Lympstone
- Exmouth
At Exmouth, there is a ferry service to Starcross on the opposite shore of the River Exe.
Passenger services on the line are provided by First Great Western using Class 150 or Class 153 diesel multiple units (Class 153s rarely operate singly, they are usually attached to another unit). Under First Great Western the line may switch to using Pacers; this is apparently under the instructions of the DfT. The section in Exeter is shared with South West Trains West of England services to London Waterloo as far as Exmouth Junction (between St James Park and Polsloe Bridge). The daytime frequency is a train every 30 mins, although trains only stop once an hour at Polsloe Bridge, St James Park, Exton and Lympstone Commando. The latter two stations are request stops.
