July 13th 2025 – At Bude Heritage Day this year, visitors were asked where they would most like to travel by train if Bude were reconnected to the national rail network – either as a day out or a holiday. The responses revealed a broad spread of interest across the UK. London emerged as the most popular choice, attracting 27.8% of responses, followed by Exeter with 22.2%. Edinburgh was the third most popular destination, with 8.3% of respondents choosing the Scottish capital. While a wide range of other towns and cities—including Brighton, Manchester, Reading, Birmingham, Newcastle, Truro and Cardiff—each attracted smaller but notable levels of interest.
This range of destinations shows that there is demand not only for local and regional travel, but also for long-distance journeys to major cities. It underlines the value of creating services that connect Bude directly or indirectly to key transport hubs.
The wider 2025 Connect Bude rail restoration survey reinforced this message with clear evidence of public support. An overwhelming 99.3% of respondents said they backed the reinstatement of passenger rail. When asked about their main reasons for travel, shopping and leisure came out on top, followed by medical appointments and journeys for work or education. Exeter, Barnstaple and South/West Cornwall were the most frequently named destinations in that survey, reflecting both everyday travel needs and the importance of regional connections.
Taken together, these two sets of findings present a strong case for rail restoration. The Heritage Day data highlights people’s aspirations to connect with destinations across the UK, while the rail restoration survey shows there is a clear, consistent demand for frequent, affordable and practical services. Both point to a community that is ready and waiting to make use of a restored rail link—one that would serve essential needs as well as open new opportunities for travel far beyond Cornwall.
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