Schemes put forward for the consideration of Dalhousie's included a new "Exeter and Crediton Railway" (to join Crediton to the B&ER at Exeter) and a "North Devon Railway" to run from Crediton to Barnstaple. The Commission rejected all other proposals for the area, and in a report dated 4 March 1845 they recommended postponement of a decision on these two in order to appraise an alternative route suggestion, to run from Tiverton to Barnstaple instead of Exeter to Barnstaple. The Taw Vale Dock and Railway from Barnstaple to Fremington was of course already authorised.