DEVON faces a decade of disruption to train services as a London railway station is transformed into a ‘new transport superhub’.

When finished, Old Oak Common station just west of Paddington will have 14 platforms to serve up to 250,000 passengers every day as part of the nationwide HS2 project.

But Devon MPs fear work to build the station will cause major problems for travellers to and from the county.

Some services will go to Euston instead of Paddington, adding time to journeys.

Services over Christmas will be affected by the works, and passengers going to and from London are being advised to check the timetables.

Speaking at prime minister’s questions this week, David Reed (Conservative, Exmouth and Exeter East) said passengers across the south west face years of disruption.

Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer said the government had earmarked £30 million towards mitigating problems.

In a separate Westminster debate on Devon’s rail network, Rachel Gilmour (Lib Dem, Tiverton and Minehead) called for rail fares to be cut to encourage people to travel during the Old Oak Common project, and for more investment in Devon’s rail and road infrastructure during the disruption.

Steve Darling (Lib Dem, Torbay) said the work in West London is a “new threat and challenge” to the county

He said: ‘The fact that the section of HS2 between Old Oak Common and Euston will cost £6.5 billion is astounding.’

And he said the cost of completing the final part of the vital ‘resilience’ scheme on the vulnerable railway line at Teignmouth and Dawlish is “small change” compared to the cost of HS2.

MPs from around Devon took part in the debate on the county’s railways, and Steve Race (Labour, Exeter) told them: ‘We face challenges that will hold back our economy if we do not address them. One of the major challenges is the regularity and the resilience of our public transport system.’

Investment in the rail network would take traffic off the roads and cut carbon emissions, he said.

Mr Race highlighted the need to complete work to protect the vulnerable sea wall line between Dawlish and Teignmouth, a project that is still awaiting funding confirmation.

Simon Lightwood, parliamentary under-secretary for transport, said the government recognises the importance of rail services in Devon and wants to see further improvements.

But, he said, not all proposed rail projects for the county could be delivered.

He said: ‘Ministers have been clear that in the context of the financial situation that the government inherited, it will not be possible to afford the delivery of all proposed projects.’

He said a thorough review of the previous government’s transport plans was under way.

Old Oak Common station, he said, is crucial for growth, but would inevitably have an impact.

‘The government will continue working with industry partners to ensure that disruption for passengers using the Great Western main line is kept to a minimum, both during construction and once services are in operation,’ he added.