Could the Okehampton Line reopen to passengers?

[Brush 4]

I'm all for rapid progress but, even I'm slightly sceptical about a May 2021 start for daily services. I want and hope to be proved wrong but, there seem to be a few issues to deal with. it is good that getting the service going is taking priority over the construction of Okehampton Parkway, which will probably have planning delays and budget cuts, based on other new station delays elsewhere. What signalling arrangements are there? Will Coleford Junction be reinstated or remain as 2 parallel lines from Crediton? Still, I hope they achieve a May opening. Start with a basic service and add improvements later.

 

[Ashley Hill]

. What signalling arrangements are there? Will Coleford Junction be reinstated or remain as 2 parallel lines from Crediton

It will remain as it is now.
In the long term IMO it would be desirable to reinstate Coleford Jcn and return the line from Credition to there as double track. This would allow Barnstaple trains to run to Coleford instead of crossing at Crediton therefore speeding up services and cutting running times.
One thing that hasn't been questioned is whether the down platform at Yeoford will be reinstated to allow Okehampton trains to call.

 

[RPI]

It will remain as it is now.
In the long term IMO it would be desirable to reinstate Coleford Jcn and return the line from Credition to there as double track. This would allow Barnstaple trains to run to Coleford instead of crossing at Crediton therefore speeding up services and cutting running times.
One thing that hasn't been questioned is whether the down platform at Yeoford will be reinstated to allow Okehampton trains to call.

Reinstating Yeoford for Okehampton trains would be a good idea, the barny trains could then run fast to Copplestone and could probably get the journey time under the golden hour that they've been on about for years, Yeoford is one of the busier halts on the line BUT the vast majority travel in the Exeter direction, infact, I dont think in over 10 years I've ever picked anyone up going towards barny. Yeoford is right in the middle of one of the fastest sections of the line too.

 

[davetheguard]

One thing that hasn't been questioned is whether the down platform at Yeoford will be reinstated to allow Okehampton trains to call.

A potential fly in the ointment to reopening a platform at Yeoford on the Okehampton track (the former down platform) is access. There used to be steps down from the road overbridge; they aren't there anymore, and even if they were, that wouldn't be suitable for disabled access. So, you'd presumably need some sort of level path, or very unlikely, a lift.

 

[RPI]

A potential fly in the ointment to reopening a platform at Yeoford on the Okehampton track (the former down platform) is access. There used to be steps down from the road overbridge; they aren't there anymore, and even if they were, that wouldn't be suitable for disabled access. So, you'd presumably need some sort of level path, or very unlikely, a lift.

View attachment 84953

It wouldn't be too difficult to create level access from the rear of the disused platform to the road behind it, this would mean a long walk around via the road between platforms though!


As per my rather crude image here

 

[323235]

If that's what it takes to provide level access then so be it, they could still provide steps from the road in addition to this one would imagine.

Could the area where your red line goes through be suitable for a small car park as well?

 

[davetheguard]

It wouldn't be too difficult to create level access from the rear of the disused platform to the road behind it, this would mean a long walk around via the road between platforms though!

View attachment 84962
As per my rather crude image here

I agree completely, still very do-able but do Network Rail still own the land of the former goods yard?

 

[Cowley]

I agree completely, still very do-able but do Network Rail still own the land of the former goods yard?

Privately owned but with access rights for Network Rail I’ve been told.

 

[MarkRedon]

There's a long article about what's hoped for by some to be found in the Moorlander at: https://themoorlander.co.uk/oke-rail-update-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel/:

Over the course of the last few years this newspaper has, in association with all of the various action groups and other interested parties, been campaigning incessantly for the reinstatement of the Okehampton to Exeter railway line, which was axed as a result of the ‘Beeching’ cuts in 1972.

The article highlights - inter alia - the work of the Dartmoor Railway Supporters Association (DRSA), particularly in maintaining the current Okehampton station in what looks to me to be a surprisingly good state.

 

[RPI]

There's a long article about what's hoped for by some to be found in the Moorlander at: https://themoorlander.co.uk/oke-rail-update-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel/:

The article highlights - inter alia - the work of the Dartmoor Railway Supporters Association (DRSA), particularly in maintaining the current Okehampton station in what looks to me to be a surprisingly good state.

Although Exeter to Okehampton wasn't a "Beeching cut" as it was never proposed for closure under the Beeching report

 

[Railwaysceptic]

Although Exeter to Okehampton wasn't a "Beeching cut" as it was never proposed for closure under the Beeching report

Dr. Beeching gets the blame for every closure including those which occurred before he arrived on the scene and those long after he left which, of course, reveals more about his critics than about him.

 

[geoffk]

Important that any new service from Okehampton goes through to Exeter Central and doesn't terminate at St. Davids, but this could be problematic. The Barnstaple trains already run through to St. James Park as trains from the west cannot terminate at Central. One solution would be to extend the SWR Waterloo trains but this could bring a performance risk which SWR wouldn't want.

 

[fgwrich]

Important that any new service from Okehampton goes through to Exeter Central and doesn't terminate at St. Davids, but this could be problematic. The Barnstaple trains already run through to St. James Park as trains from the west cannot terminate at Central. One solution would be to extend the SWR Waterloo trains but this could bring a performance risk which SWR wouldn't want.

I was thinking about this the other day, one solution is that they could be terminated in the bay at St Davids (if it is useable), but be timed to connect with the Paignton - Exmouth services. That way you can keep the Okehampton services self contained, and provide a cross platform interchange. Unfortunately I can't see any further through services to St James Park and onwards until the West of England works are undertaken - and finally allowing for Devon Metro to be extended to Honiton / Axminster.

 

[Gathursty]

Reinstating Yeoford for Okehampton trains would be a good idea, the barny trains could then run fast to Copplestone and could probably get the journey time under the golden hour that they've been on about for years, Yeoford is one of the busier halts on the line BUT the vast majority travel in the Exeter direction, infact, I dont think in over 10 years I've ever picked anyone up going towards barny. Yeoford is right in the middle of one of the fastest sections of the line too.

Last year I travelled Yeoford to Barnstaple and back I look forward to any improvement along the line.

 

[RPI]

One mad idea could be to join/split the barny/Okehamptons at Exeter St Davids or Crediton, although I'm not sure if the signalling exists to join them at Crediton, reduces the number of paths required between St Davids and St James

 

[Peregrine 4903]

As this seems like a re-opening that actually has a good chance of occuring, does anybody have any ideas for suggested service patterns.

There was some discussion in the Okehampton thread about it, but I was wondering if anyone had any proposals?

I personally do now know the route well, so I'm curious as to what people suggest?

 

[Ashley Hill]

I was thinking about this the other day, one solution is that they could be terminated in the bay at St Davids (if it is useable), but be timed to connect with the Paignton - Exmouth services. That way you can keep the Okehampton services self contained, and provide a cross platform interchange. Unfortunately I can't see any further through services to St James Park and onwards until the West of England works are undertaken - and finally allowing for Devon Metro to be extended to Honiton / Axminster.

There is talk of running the Okehamptons out to Pinhoe to turn around. Whether as a service or ECS I don't know.

 

[Jorge Da Silva]

Simple hourly service from Exeter to Okehampton

 

[Peregrine 4903]

Simple hourly service from Exeter to Okehampton

Which Exeter station though?

 

[Hardcastle]

If i remember the timetable before closure was 7-8 trains a day Mon-Sat only. To make it useful with the parkway station at Okehampton i would say hourly too.

 

[Peregrine 4903]

If i remember the timetable before closure was 7-8 trains a day Mon-Sat only. To make it useful with the parkway station at Okehampton i would say hourly too.

Do you think the service could be used to speed up the Barnstaple service?

 

[Hardcastle]

It depends if you knock out some of the stops out of the Barnstaple trains but you would need to have interchange station to make that work for connections without ridiculous waits on route.

 

[Peregrine 4903]

It depends if you knock out some of the stops out of the Barnstaple trains but you would need to have interchange station to make that work for connections without ridiculous waits on route.

I read somewhere there was a plan to make Yeoford an interchange station I think, but I could be completely wrong and thinking of the wrong place.

 

[Hardcastle]

I thought there where some problems at Yeoford with access to the Okehampton platform as the track is split there maybe Crediton would be a better place but does every hourly train need to stop at all stations on route to Exeter i think not.

 

[Gloster]

There are only two stops between Exeter St David’s and Yeoford: there is hardly anything worth bothering about at Newton St Cyres and Crediton is the most important intermediate station on the Barnstaple line.

 

[Peregrine 4903]

There are only two stops between Exeter St David’s and Yeoford: there is hardly anything worth bothering about at Newton St Cyres and Crediton is the most important intermediate station on the Barnstaple line.

So interchange for Okehampton and Barnstaple services should be either at Yeoford if platforms works are done or Crediton, and the Barnstaple train could then runthroug Newton St Cyres and one of Crediton/Yeoford, while the Okehampton train calls at all of them.

 

[Hardcastle]

So interchange for Okehampton and Barnstaple services should be either at Yeoford if platforms works are done or Crediton, and the Barnstaple train could then runthroug Newton St Cyres and one of Crediton/Yeoford, while the Okehampton train calls at all of them.

But you cannot miss the Crediton stop out on any service as Gloster says it's the most important intermediate station on the line.

 

[Peregrine 4903]

But you cannot miss the Crediton stop out on any service as Gloster says it's the most important intermediate station on the line.

So either Barnstaple train only stops at Crediton which I guess is the better option, or it stops at Yeoford as well, which basically ruins the point of speeding up journey times.

 

[Gloster]

And Newton St Cyres hasn’t had more than a handful of trains a day for years, if ever. There is really no practical solution except to run through to Exeter, preferably Central. Forget the interchange and just run as two separate services to Exeter which both serve Crediton.

NOTE: This should have followed #11.

 

[Peregrine 4903]

Also would the Okehampton trains call at Sampford Courtenay, even just one train a day or something like that, or not at all?