Introduction

This line is closed. In 1872 the London and South Western Railway extended the 1855 Bideford [1st] line south through a new Bideford [2nd] station to Torrington. The original Bideford station remained in use as a goods station, with no goods yard at the new station. The line was extended south in 1880 by a 3ft gauge line, the Torrington and Marland Light Railway. This was converted to Standard Gauge in 1925 and extended by the North Devon and Cornwall Junction Light Railway to Halwill on the Holsworthy Branch (London and South Western Railway).

The line closed to passengers in 1965 but remained open to goods and minerals, with many railtours visiting Bideford [2nd] and Torrington until line closure in 1982.

Track lifting began in 1984 and reached Bideford in 1985.

Both Bideford [2nd] and Torrington stations remained trackless and intact after closure. The trackbed was preserved as the Tarka Trail. Track has been laid and both and re-opening between the two is the aim of the Tarka Valley Railway . By late 2022 300 yards of line had been laid north from Torrington and the first public train left the station in August 2023.