Bere Ferrers railway station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bere Ferrers
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Former station building and signal box
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| Location | Bere Ferrers, West Devon England |
| Coordinates | 50°27′00″N 4°10′52″W / 50.450°N 4.181°W |
| Platforms | 1 |
| Other information | |
| Station code | BFE |
| Classification | DfT category F2 |
| Traffic | |
| Passengers (2019/20) |  15,026 |
| Passengers (2020/21) | 4,410 |
| Passengers (2021/22) |  10,786 |
| Passengers (2022/23) | 11,258 |
| Passengers (2023/24) | 13,026 |
Bere Ferrers station is a train station located near the village of Bere Ferrers in Devon, England. It is part of the Tamar Valley Line. This station was once on a main railway line that connected Exeter and Plymouth. Today, Great Western Railway (GWR) operates the station.
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History of Bere Ferrers Station
The station first opened on June 2, 1890. It was built by the Plymouth, Devonport and South Western Junction Railway. This new line gave the London and South Western Railway a direct route into Plymouth. This meant they did not have to rely on the Great Western Railway.
How the Station Got Its Name
The station was first called "Beer Ferris." This name came from the local Beer family, who owned several villages nearby. However, in 1897, railway officials decided to change the name. They thought "Beer Ferris" sounded too much like the drink "beer." They wanted a more refined image for the village. So, they changed the name to "Bere Ferrers." You can still see the original spelling on a sign at the signal box in the heritage centre.
Camping Coaches at the Station
From 1936 to 1939, the Southern Railway used a special "camping coach" at Bere Ferrers. These were old train carriages that people could rent for holidays. They were like small homes on wheels. More camping coaches were used here from 1954 to 1964.
Changes to the Railway Line
In 1968, trains stopped running through Bere Alston. The railway line at Bere Ferrers was then changed to a single track on September 7, 1970.
A Sad Event at the Station
On September 24, 1917, a sad accident happened at the station. Ten soldiers from New Zealand were traveling by train. They had just arrived in Britain and were going from Plymouth to Salisbury. At Bere Ferrers station, they got off their train for a short break. They stepped onto the tracks between trains. Since they were not used to British railways, another train came and hit them. The soldiers were killed. They are buried in a war cemetery in Plymouth. In 2001, a special plaque was placed in the village to remember them.
Train Services at Bere Ferrers
Bere Ferrers station is served by GWR trains. These trains run on the Tamar Valley Line. They travel between Gunnislake and Plymouth. If you want to travel further, you can connect to main line services at Plymouth.
There are usually nine trains each way on weekdays. On Saturdays, there are eight trains. On Sundays, there are five or six trains, depending on the time of year.
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Tamar Belle Heritage Centre
Next to the station, you will find the Tamar Belle Heritage Centre. This centre has old train carriages. Some of these carriages are used as a restaurant. Others are still used as "camping coaches" for people to stay in. The signal box at the centre was moved here in 1989/90. It used to be at Pinhoe railway station near Exeter.
Community Railway Efforts
The railway line from Plymouth to Gunnislake is a "community railway." This means local groups help promote and support it. The Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership helps market the line. It is promoted as the "Tamar Valley Line."
A local pub, The Olde Plough Inn, takes part in a special trail. This trail encourages people to use the Tamar Valley Line to visit different places. The line is also part of the Dartmoor Sunday Rover network. This network combines bus and train routes for easy travel.
See also
- Exeter to Plymouth railway of the LSWR
