Welcome to SERUG
Salisbury to Exeter Rail Users Group (SERUG)
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We focus specifically on the section west of Salisbury where the current infrastructure severely restricts service and line speed improvements. We cover the stations of Tisbury, Gillingham, Templecombe, Sherborne, Yeovil Junction, Crewkerne, Axminster, Honiton, Feniton, Whimple, Cranbrook and Pinhoe and Exeter Central.
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We are lobbying for improvements to infrastructure, rolling stock, and timetables as well as guarantees that availability of the unregulated fares offered by the previous franchisee (South West Trains) will be maintained by the new operator South Western Railway.
More specific information on our objectives can be found on the objectives page.
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SERUG is not funded by any commercial rail operators or rail-based organisations (such as Network Rail). We lobby independently for service and infrastructure improvements that will benefit the travelling public. SERUG is affiliated to Railfuture, a non-political, not for profit organisation which campaigns for a bigger and better railway in Britain.
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SERUG welcomes your support and feedback. If you would like to receive regular updates (newsletters, details of events, etc), please see the Membership section on this site or email contact@serug.co.uk
SERUG meets MPs and the Rail Minister at the House of Commons
SERUG’s Chair Bruce Duncan and Secretary Nick Hurrell, have attended two recent meetings at the House of Commons.
The first, in late February was to present the Railfuture/SERUG Proposals for long term investment to the MP’s whose constituencies adjoin the line. These can be seen in full, tagged below, as 1) the Presentation and 2) the Proposal.
Sir Oliver Letwin coordinated the group of MP’s and all stations on the Salisbury to Exeter section were represented. Our proposals, which provide major passenger benefits, including better reliability, capacity and time savings, were well received. In summary, they covered SERUG’s aims as outlined elsewhere on this web site, with track doubling from Dinton into a new platform at Tisbury, and a loop between Whimple/Cranbrook as the main priorities. A further loop between Yeovil Junction and Crewkerne would also help resilience for GWR diversionary trains. Finally, we proposed improvements at Yeovil Junction to allow trains to split and join, which would improve journey opportunities and actually requires minimal investment but simply need the will from Network Rail. The need for new trains was also highlighted. We believe our proposals are realistic – given budget constraints.
Sir Oliver, after consulting with his colleagues, wrote to the Rail Minister, Jo Johnson, supporting our proposals and requested funding to allow Network Rail to cost the work.
Subsequently, we were invited to meet the Rail Minister on 1st May. At that meeting we were informed that he has opened a “window” between 31May and 31 July 2018 to allow proposals for additional investment that do not currently sit within Network Rail’s future investment plans. The MP’s are keen that SERUG’s proposals form the basis of improvements to the Salisbury to Exeter section. We will now work with The West of England Strategy Group (Network Rail and South Western Railway supported) and the MP’s to produce a formal plan which also needs to have support from local Councils and LEP’s.
In summary, good progress, but there’s much work to be done! However, we are very hopeful that our continuing lobbying with stakeholder Network Rail, will finally start to see some real plans to improve services on this line.
The presentation – HOC-21-Feb-pres-2-final.pptx (132 downloads)
The Proposal – 21-Feb-2018-mtg-Proposal-final.docx (145 downloads)