Bus Services Improvement Plan (BSIP) in North Devon

Introduction

Following the government’s announcement of the Bus Back Better National Bus Strategy in 2021, Devon County Council published the Bus Services Improvement Plan in 2022 to prioritise bus improvement schemes across the county.

We subsequently secured government funding to deliver a range of schemes in the Barnstaple area, which is specifically allocated to infrastructure enhancements to benefit buses. It cannot be reallocated to bus or rail service enhancements, or to other County Council responsibilities, e.g. road maintenance.

Further information about each of the proposals is provided below. We invite you to feedback your comments on proposals via questionnaires, or send to the contact information found at the bottom of the page.

• Bus-Rail Integration Enhancements at Barnstaple Railway Station

  Next Steps

  Subject to receiving all necessary approvals, it is planned that the scheme could be constructed in Spring 2025.

  The responses to the engagement have been summarised and can be viewed in the below dashboard. Alternatively, the dashboard can be viewed here.

  Public Engagement

  Devon County Council is developing proposals to improve integration between buses and trains and improve the passenger experience at Barnstaple Railway Station. The public engagement commenced on 22 May 2024 and concluded on 26 June 2024.

  Members of the public were invited to have their say on the proposals through an online survey. Paper copies of the survey could be requested using the contact details at the bottom of this webpage.

  During the engagement period, Devon County Council held the following events to explain and seek feedback on the proposals:

  • Webinar via Microsoft Teams at 18:00 – 19:00 on 3 June 2024
  • In-person event at Barnstaple Railway Station, Station Road, Barnstaple, Devon, EX31 2AU at 14:30 – 17:30 on 13 June 2024

  The webinar comprised of a short presentation by Devon County Council officers, followed by an opportunity for attendees to provide feedback or ask questions of the officers.

  The in-person event was a drop-in event for attendees to provide feedback or ask questions of Devon County Council officers.

  Scheme Objectives

  The scheme aims to:

  • Provide a seamless transition between buses and trains
  • Enable buses travelling between the railway station and town centre to avoid queues of traffic on Station Road
  • Enhance shelter and information provision at the bus stop
  • Provide an improved environment for bus and rail passengers arriving in Barnstaple
  • Improve crossing facilities, to improve the safety of pedestrians accessing the bus stop and railway station

  By doing so, it is hoped to make bus the natural first choice for passengers making journeys from Barnstaple station, increasing passenger satisfaction and boosting bus patronage.

  Scheme Proposal

  The proposals make significant improvements to the bus stop arrangements and road network in the vicinity of Barnstaple Railway Station. These are illustrated in the below artist’s impression (although please note that this is indicative only, and some aspects may not fully reflect the detailed scheme design). Please click here to open the visualisation in a separate window.

  

  A 2D scheme plan is also available.

  The scheme includes the following changes:

  • All buses would set down and pick up passengers at a large bus stop immediately adjacent to the station entrance, enabling passengers to more easily change between buses and trains.
  • In order to serve this stop, buses coming from Bideford and Sticklepath would turn around at the roundabout near the Tesco car park.
  • A one-way bus access will be created at the southern (railway station) end of Sticklepath Terrace. This would allow buses heading from the railway station towards Barnstaple town centre to turn onto Sticklepath Terrace and join the A3125/Station Road roundabout, and then into the town centre via Long Bridge. General traffic would be prohibited from using this.
  • The road layout adjacent to the station will be simplified, reducing the road width from four lanes to two lanes. This will be shared between buses and general traffic.
  • Changes to the road layout would also enable the station forecourt to be expanded to accommodate improved bus stop facilities, including shelters, passenger information and cycle parking.
  • A raised-table pedestrian crossing would be provided, making it easier and safer for pedestrians to cross the road to access the station and bus stops.
  • Pedestrian crossing facilities will also be provided at the Tesco end of the road past the station. These would be usable by people walking and cycling, and would improve safety for people travelling between the railway station and the Seven Brethren industrial estate.
  • Drop-off and taxi bays would be relocated to be adjacent to the western (car park) entrance to the station. Changes within the railway station car park would slightly reduce the overall number of spaces to accommodate these bays and changes to the road layout.

  The scheme design has been developed by Devon County Council in partnership with Network Rail, the rail infrastructure owner, and Great Western Railway, the company which manages Barnstaple station and operates all trains serving the station.

  Data

  • Approximately 285 buses serve Barnstaple railway station per weekday
  • Of these, approximately 160 travel into Barnstaple town centre after leaving the station. These currently use Station Road, but would use Sticklepath Terrace (accessed via the proposed bus gate) following the delivery of the scheme.
  • Sticklepath Terrace is a much quieter road (used by some 300 vehicles per day) than Station Road (used by approximately 13,000 vehicles per day). Therefore, the proposed changes to bus routes travelling towards the town centre would likely reduce the congestion experienced by buses.
  • According to Office of Rail and Road data for 2022/23, Barnstaple railway station is used by approximately 540,000 passengers per year.

  A map of bus and rail services serving Barnstaple railway station is provided below. For a table providing details of these services, please see https://www.devon.gov.uk/haveyoursay/barnstaple-railway-station-bus-and-rail-services/.

  

  Links with other schemes

  This scheme would build upon recent work to improve integration between bus and train services at Barnstaple Station, including changes to the 309/310 (Barnstaple – Lynton and Lynmouth) bus route to improve connections with trains.

  Additionally, from 2025, electric buses are planned to be rolled out on the highest-frequency bus route serving Barnstaple Station, the 21/21A (Ilfracombe – Barnstaple – Bideford – Westward Ho!/Appledore) route. This is following Devon County Council and Stagecoach South West securing £5.3 million of funding from government’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas scheme.

• Bus Lane Improvements on Braunton Road, Barnstaple

  Next steps

  The responses to the consultation have been summarised and can be viewed in the below dashboard. Alternatively, the dashboard can be viewed at here.

  Consultation

  Devon County Council are developing bus lane improvement proposals at Braunton Road, Barnstaple. The public consultation started from 17th January 2024 and closed on the 18th of February 2024. You were invited to have your say on the proposals via a Questionnaire the contact details below.

  Scheme Proposal

  

  The road layout will change by extending the existing bus lane through the lights allowing buses through the traffic lights towards Barnstaple without needing to stop. It would not reduce or restrict lanes for general traffic.

  The existing bus lane starts just after the Chaddiford Lane junction travelling towards Barnstaple. It is proposed that opposite Pilland Way the bus lane is separated from the general traffic via a refuge island and hatched lines. Minor changes are proposed to the existing segregated pedestrian and cycleway, but no changes to the road layout for the general traffic. The bus lane continues to the next junction as it is now.

  Continuing towards Barnstaple, at the main A361 junction towards the Taw Bridge, it is proposed that the bus lane is separated from other vehicles via hatched lines and a new refuge island. A crossing is proposed across the bus lane between the north pavement to the new refuge island. The traffic signals will allow people walking and cycling to cross from the new refuge island towards A361. The northern kerb line and islands will be readjusted to keep adequate space for traffic. No changes would be made to the Barnstaple towards Braunton side of the road.

  The scheme aims to improve bus journey times for services from Braunton towards Barnstaple, therefore improving existing user experience and encouraging the further use of public transport services. It promotes priority for buses and taxis to avoid the queuing traffic.

  Government funding has been secured for the works, and subject to the public consultation response and gaining relevant approvals we aim to complete the final design and build the scheme in Spring 2025.

  Artist Impression

  An artist’s impression is available for the A361 junction to show the Before and After image of what the scheme could look like traveling from Braunton towards Barnstaple (move the slider left and right to see the difference between the existing and proposed plans). [Credit to Map data 2024 Google, street view of Braunton Road].

  Before

  

  After

  

  Data

  According to the most up to date bus timetables from Devon Public Transport Map (2024 January), there are currently a total of 292 buses that would benefit from the bus lane per week, approximately 50 buses per day from Monday to Saturday. The following services would benefit from the bus lane: 21, 21A, 21C and 303, as they travel along Braunton Road towards Barnstaple.

  At the Pilland Way junction, the average length of the red traffic light for buses traveling past Chaddiford Lane towards Barnstaple is 17 seconds that occurs 67 times in an hour. This means on average 19 minutes every hour is red for buses. If the proposals go ahead, buses would have the potential to save significant waiting time at the traffic lights as they could go through them without needing to stop.

• New Bus Lane in Roundswell, Barnstaple

  Devon County Council developed bus lane improvement proposals at Roundswell, Barnstaple and held a public consultation from 26th May to 23rd June, 2023. The consultation report was published on 17th July 2023.

  The proposal included bus priority along 500 metres between Gratton Way and Roundswell roundabout via a new bus lane. The scheme will improve bus journey times for services from Barnstaple towards Roundswell roundabout. It promotes priority for buses and taxis to avoid the queuing traffic, ensuring more reliable bus services onto the A39, therefore improving existing patronage experience and encouraging the further use of public transport services.

  Click here for the plan of the proposals for the consultation.

  Following the consultation, the length of the bus lane was shortened to improve congestion for general traffic, as well as allow more distance for buses to weave into the right-hand lane.

  The scheme was approved at 2023 October Cabinet (item 400), click here for the most up to date plan.

  Government funding has been secured, and we aim to start construction in autumn 2024.

Accessibility

We take accessibility seriously and recognise that some of the information presented in the files available on this page may not be fully accessible to someone using assistive technology such as a screen reader.

If you need guidance or an alternative format, email transportplanning@devon.gov.uk with details of any preferred format and the assistive technology you use.