Connect Bude exists to lobby, advocate and research to reconnect North Cornwall to the rest of the country via rail, bus, and active travel. We believe North Cornwall and North-West Devon should have fair and equal access to education, jobs, health and culture.
Vision Statement
North Cornwall has experienced a public transport deficit for decades. Connect Bude will work together with partners to bring connectivity to the ‘rail desert’ and improve access to work, health, education, training, leisure, culture and onward travel, by campaigning to reconnect the whole area to the National Railway Network.
Our Core Aims
To campaign to reconnect the ‘rail desert’ of North Cornwall and West Devon to the National Rail Network.
To actively collaborate with colleagues in Launceston in campaigning for a new, fast mainline from Okehampton to Bodmin along the A30 transport corridor.
To lobby for local buses in Bude and Holsworthy to be timetabled to connect effectively and reliably with the expanding rail services at Okehampton, to ease onward travel to Exeter and beyond.
To work with like-minded groups, businesses and individuals, to improve public transport connectivity across the region and especially for Bude.
To engage with experts, stakeholders and all tiers of national and local government to bring about sustainable travel solutions.
The Past
For 68 years, from 1898 to 1966, Bude and Holsworthy were linked by rail to Okehampton, Exeter, London and beyond. Direct trains sped from the water’s edge to Waterloo in under five hours.
Remote communities were prevented from becoming isolated. Rail brought prosperity through economic activity and gave people a sense of wellbeing through connectivity.
Once the branch lines were closed by the Government in 1966, following therecommendations included in the earlier Beeching Report, North Cornwall became arail desert. Bude earned the dubious accolade of being the furthest town in England from a mainline railway station.
The Present
The campaigning of Okerail led to the line from Okehampton to Exeter being reopened in 2021. The new hourly service is already a major success with passenger numbers 250% of the anticipated use.
Devon County Council has financially supported an integrated direct bus link from Tavistock to the new station at Okehampton. Connect Bude is lobbying to achieve a similar integrated direct bus link from Bude & Holsworthy to Okehampton, rather than the existing 2.5hr bus journey to Exeter.
The lack of regional connectivity inhibits access to work, education, health, leasure, and culture; especially for those without private transport. This is evidenced by the
fact that Bude suffers a net loss of young people (15 to 24), with those staying more likely to be on benefits than the average.
The Future
Compared to England as a whole, Bude has a much higher reliance on cars with 11% more car ownership, rising to 24% more for +65yr olds, because of limited transport
options. When fast and reliable public transport arrives in Bude then residents can make the green choice and help the Climate Emergency.
Businesses & residents across the region are demanding fast, efficient, integrated, accessible and green public transport options for North Cornwall and West Devon – serving +40k residents and +285k visitors a year.
Connect Bude has already helped drive forward engineering studies, business case development and evidence gathering to demonstrate both the need and opportunity for improved connectivity. The campaign has also garnered active support from local communities, businesses, Councillors and MPs. With the growing momentum behind rail expansion in the South West, including proposals we helped develop such as such as Kernow Connect, there is now a realistic opportunity to reconnect the ‘rail desert’ of North Cornwall and West Devon to the National Railway Network.
In the short term – lets fix the Bude bus connection to rail. Then work towards opening the new direct Cornish line from Okehampton to Penzance, via Bodmin and Launceston. Finally – lobby for a new branch line from Launceston to Bude.
