Planned train timetable changes will be altered if they do not suit Dawlish commuters. First Great Western regional manager Julian Crow made the pledge to a full Dawlish Town Council meeting. Changes to the timetable in December see one of the busiest commuter trains from Dawlish to Exeter, the 7.46am, being scrapped and replaced with one at 8.18am. At peak travelling time there is now an hour between trains. This has caused furore among commuters and students who say they will be late into work or college. Mr Crow said that extensive public consultation had been undertaken with every relevant authority before the changes were made. The chairman of Dawlish Chamber of Trade, Bob Bowen, said: 'I'd like to know who was consulted. I really don't see how a national survey could have any relevance to what goes on here at Dawlish. 'What's being done is a loss of service, an erosion of service to the area. It could do a lot of harm.' Mr Crow said: 'If the times we have are not quite right, then we'll be happy to change them. 'If they're wrong, then we'll improve. We want to produce something that is as near as possible to what our customers want. 'The only objective for us is to get more people on the trains; that's where we make our money. 'I feel very optimistic for the future of rail transport, but we have to get the timetable right and we have to provide adequate rolling stock.' He also said that Great Western's entire fleet of trains would all be refurbished by the end of November next year. Regarding the rail line by the sea wall at Dawlish, Mr Crow said that a huge amount of money had been spent on maintaining it, but he didn't have any immediate concerns. He also quelled rumours that the line would be moved inland. Cllr Rosalind Prowse said: 'We are basically a commuter town for Torquay, Newton Abbot and Exeter. Once children here get to 16 they have to go to school out of town, as there is no further education here. Most of them go to Exeter and use the 7.46am service. It is very valuable.' Mr Crow said there was the possibility of moving the train forward by half an hour, but that would have to be reviewed. Councillors also raised the issue of disability access and the cleaning of pigeon mess from the viaduct. It was heard that Dawlish station is currently being painted and will be repainted every five years. There is also a plan to replace the covering over the platforms. MP Richard Younger-Ross said: 'If you lose the train, you lose passengers. People affected will start to use busses or cars and never get back on the train.' He asked Mr Crow to, if anything, make the next consultation on train times be earlier, not later.
