*** Welcome to piglix ***

Bristol to Exeter line

Bristol to Exeter line
Devils Bridge 34067.jpg
34067 Tangmere steaming under Devil's Bridge
with a "Torbay Express" service
Overview
Type Suburban rail, Heavy rail
System National Rail
Status Operational
Termini Bristol Temple Meads
Exeter St Davids
Operation
Opened 1841–1842
Owner Network Rail
Operator(s) Great Western Railway, CrossCountry
Rolling stock Class 43 HST
Class 143 "Pacer"
Class 150 "Sprinter"
Class 153 "Super Sprinter"
Class 158 "Express Sprinter"
Class 220 "Voyager"
Class 221 "Super Voyager"
Technical
Number of tracks 2
Track gauge 4 ft 8 12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Operating speed 100 mph (161 km/h) maximum

The Bristol to Exeter line is a major branch of the Great Western Main Line in the southern United Kingdom and runs from Bristol, to Exeter, from where it continues as the Exeter to Plymouth line. It was one of the principal routes of the pre-1948 Great Western Railway which were subsequently taken over by the Western Region of British Railways and are now part of the Network Rail system.

The line was built by the Bristol and Exeter Railway with Isambard Kingdom Brunel as the engineer. The section from Bristol to Bridgwater was opened on 14 June 1841 and it was completed to Taunton on 1 July 1842. It was initially operated by the Great Western Railway as an extension of their line from London Paddington station and formed part of the 7 ft (2,134 mm) broad gauge trunk route to Penzance on which through trains were run from 1867, but in the same year the section between Highbridge and Durston was reconstructed as a mixed gauge line to accommodate local 4 ft 8 12 in (1,435 mm) gauge traffic. The remainder of the line was laid with mixed gauge by 1 June 1875 and broad gauge trains ceased operation on 20 May 1892.


...
Wikipedia

...