BERE FERRERS and Calstock stations will lose their 'request stop' status from the start of the new Tamar Valley Line train timetable this Sunday, 23 May.

For more than a decade, passengers wishing to leave the train at Calstock and Bere Ferrers stations have had to ask the train conductor in good time.

Those wishing to join have, at least officially, had to signal clearly to the train driver.

From time to time, this has led to problems, particularly with people for Bere Ferrers being taken on to Bere Alston.

Now both stations will become regular stops and all trains except for the very early train out from Plymouth will call automatically.

First Great Western are making the change because, with rising passenger numbers, almost all trains are already stopping at the two stations.

Julian Crow, general manager, West of England, for First Great Western, said: 'As passenger numbers continue to grow, the days when Calstock and Bere Ferrers stations were only used by a handful of people are now behind us and this small change will simplify using the railway for both customers and our on-board crews.

'It's another demonstration of the continuing success story of our local rail services.'

Welcoming the change, Richard Burningham, manager of the Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership, said: 'This is another sign of the growing popularity of the Tamar Valley Line.

'More and more people are taking the train with a 12.3% increase just in 2009.

'Nearly 50,000 more journeys were made last year than five years before.'

Other timetable changes are relatively minor.

One of the main ones is that the weekday afternoon commuter train from Plymouth will now leave five minutes earlier, at 1637.

Timetable information can also be obtained from National Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50.