NEW trains are on the way for the Dartmoor and Tarka Lines through Crediton, Great Western Railway has announced.

Twenty-six Class 175 trains are expected to start to enter service in Devon and Cornwall later this year, with the entire fleet expected to be operational from the end of 2026.

They will operate predominantly on the line between Exeter St Davids and Penzance, as well as to Barnstaple and Okehampton via Crediton.

The 10 two-carriage trains and 16 three-carriage trains will be able to be connected in four-, five- and six-carriage formations.

They will replace some of GWR’s oldest and least efficient diesel rolling stock, which are more expensive and less environmentally friendly to run.

It is hoped they will also release trains to improve performance in other areas of the network.

“The benefits of these trains will be felt by customers across the whole of the GWR network,” said GWR Managing Director Mark Hopwood.

“With more trains we will have more scope to increase resilience where it is needed most, delivering the reliability our communities deserve and need.

“They are a fantastic addition to our fleet and will provide a welcome boost as we seek to rejuvenate our regional and suburban services.

“We’d like to thank our industry partners, and the Department for Transport, for helping us get to this point and we look forward to welcoming the trains into service later this year.”

Rail Minister Lord Hendy added: “The introduction of these trains is great news for passengers who will soon benefit from more reliable journeys across the Great Western Railway network.

“Replacing ageing rolling stock is crucial to the sustainability and growth of our network by encouraging more people to travel by rail. I look forward to seeing the Class 175 trains introduced later this year."