A feasibility study into extending the platforms at Ivybridge railway station is nearing completion, with final costings now being prepared.

South West Devon MP Rebecca Smith said Network Rail had updated her this week and was hoping to have the study ready within the next few weeks.

The study is examining whether the platforms can be extended to allow more services, including CrossCountry trains, to stop at Ivybridge.

South Hams District Council has provided £20,000 towards the feasibility work, which is being carried out to determine whether extending the platforms is possible.

Ms Smith has been campaigning for improved rail services at Ivybridge alongside the Ivybridge Rail Users Group, PL:21, South Hams District Council, Network Rail, CrossCountry and GWR. She said there was evidence of demand for more services at the station, with 94 per cent of respondents to her recent transport survey in Ivybridge saying they wanted more trains to stop there.

The latest official figures also show that nearly 137,000 entries and exits were recorded at Ivybridge station during 2024/25, an increase of around 16 per cent on the previous year.

Ms Smith said: “The next step is for the feasibility study to be carried out to understand whether the platforms can be extended. If it shows they can, we then need to secure the funding for the work.”

“I have previously raised in Parliament that 29 CrossCountry services were passing through Ivybridge without stopping, alongside 16 GWR services stopping there, so I believe that getting more services to call at Ivybridge could make a real difference for local residents.”

The platform length has previously been cited as a reason for some services not stopping at Ivybridge.

Ms Smith said she had met the managing director of GWR, who told her the company was “very keen” to have more trains stopping at Ivybridge. CrossCountry has also indicated its support for improved services.

The prospect of more trains has prompted a mixed range of practical suggestions and experiences from local residents on social media.

Jo Melvin said her daughter used the station daily to travel to college, but had to take an early train and arrive well before she was needed because of the available services. She said being able to use more trains would benefit commuters and highlighted the station’s free parking.

Michael Handley also said he regularly started rail journeys from Ivybridge and was hopeful the platforms would eventually be extended.

Another resident, Chris Chas Heaver, cautioned that the issue may be more complicated than simply extending the platforms, saying he understood it could also involve slowing down other through trains .

In a previous statement South Hams District Council's Executive Member for Economic Development, Cllr John Birch, said:"The Council has provided funding for a feasibility study to assess if extending Ivybridge Railway Station's platform is a viable option.

“The funding we have provided is for investigating and developing the proposal.

“This was identified as an opportunity in the Community Economic Plan for the town.”

No timetable has yet been given for any potential platform extension.