Despite being the closest station to Exeter Airport (2.2 miles away), there is not yet a public transport link between the two,[4][5][6] but in 2015 a direct bus route was expected to be introduced after the station's completion,[7] to help improve the town's poor level of bus service.

[9] However, detailed design of the station began only in summer 2014, and construction started that autumn with opening initially due in spring 2015,[10] but problems with a sewer and railway signalling postponed the opening for a then unknown duration.

[16] The station's single platform has a usable length of 150 metres (490 ft)[17] to accommodate the six-car trains (paired three-car Class 159 units) that operate on the route.

Off-peak, all services at Cranbrook are operated by South Western Railway using Class 158 and 159 DMUs.

[citation needed] The typical off-peak service in trains per hour is:[19] The station is also served by a single weekday peak hour service from Barnstaple to Axminster which is operated by Great Western Railway.