Okehampton - 3 Years On

[Brush 4]

The 1 year on thread is closed so here is a new one. Predictably, even more success and doom laden predictions wrong....again.

Celebrations in Okehampton as more than 550,000 journeys made in first two years of Dartmoor Line reopening - The Dartmoor Line

A special community celebration has taken place today to mark the second anniversary of the reopening of the Dartmoor Line. The previously mothballed rail line, which runs between Okehampton and Exeter, was restored in just nine months and delivered £10m under budget, opening two years ago to...

dartmoorline.com

The previously mothballed rail line, which runs between Okehampton and Exeter, was restored in just nine months and delivered £10m under budget, opening two years ago to the day today. Since then, more than 550,000 passenger journeys have been made on the line, far exceeding expectations.

Also, click on the Autumn Update at the bottom of the page....

 

[Master29]

Wasn't a surprise to those of us in the West Country.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

The 1 year on thread is closed so here is a new one. Predictably, even more success and doom laden predictions wrong....again.

Celebrations in Okehampton as more than 550,000 journeys made in first two years of Dartmoor Line reopening - The Dartmoor Line

A special community celebration has taken place today to mark the second anniversary of the reopening of the Dartmoor Line. The previously mothballed rail line, which runs between Okehampton and Exeter, was restored in just nine months and delivered £10m under budget, opening two years ago to...

dartmoorline.com

Also, click on the Autumn Update at the bottom of the page....

Very positive and im sure Ashington will also deliver and should reinforce wherever there is existing infrastructure solutions can be delivered cost effectively. Im less hopeful that any of those proposals on redundant lines will get very far in England.

 

[YorkRailFan]

I think that the Dartmoor Line is great, but I have first hand experienced the downsides. Villages that aren't served by the train, used to get a give or take hourly bus service with 6/6A before the train returned, now with the train, that has gone down to the 6A every 3 hours. I'm talking about villages such as Crockernwell, Sticklepath, Whiddon Down, Cheriton Bishop, Tedburn St Mary and others. Although I believe that the bus service is increasing to every 2 hours.

 

[Ashley Hill]

I took this photo of Okehampton station yesterday evening showing the double tracks stretching achingly towards the Plymouth direction.

There’s no doubt the reopening of this line is a major success. It’s a shame that the Dartmoor Railway operations had to cease though.

 

[Ash Bridge]

I took this photo of Okehampton station yesterday evening showing the double tracks stretching achingly towards the Plymouth direction.
View attachment 147072
There’s no doubt the reopening of this line is a major success. It’s a shame that the Dartmoor Railway operations had to cease though.

Nice shot, and agree with all your comments. Platform 1 equally looks to be waiting for its Bude, Wadebridge & Padstow connecting dmus to return, but perhaps I’m really getting carried away now!

 

[30907]

Nice shot, and agree with all your comments. Platform 1 equally looks to be waiting for its Bude, Wadebridge & Padstow connecting dmus to return, but perhaps I’m really getting carried away now!

T9 plus 2-P set, surely?

 

[Ash Bridge]

T9 plus 2-P set, surely?

Oh absolutely!

 

[DJ_K666]

I took this photo of Okehampton station yesterday evening showing the double tracks stretching achingly towards the Plymouth direction.
View attachment 147072
There’s no doubt the reopening of this line is a major success. It’s a shame that the Dartmoor Railway operations had to cease though.

That's a great atmospheric photo

 

[Rover]

That's a great atmospheric photo

Seconded, that's a superb photograph.

 

[Ashley Hill]

Nice shot

That's a great atmospheric photo

Seconded, that's a superb photograph.

Thanks.

 

[deltic]

228,000 passengers used the station in 2022/3 of whom nearly half were travelling to Exeter according to the ORR station usage data.

Moderator note: Some posts have been moved from this thread to the following pre-existing threads:

How could Okehampton patronage be increased (including bus links/through fares)?

Moderator note: Split from https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/okehampton-exeter-open-a-year-success.239826/ From an infrastructure perspective they could perhaps do with upgrading the line speed from Crediton to (former) Coleford Jct, which is only 40mph despite the neighbouring Tarka line...

www.railforums.co.uk

Visiting Okehampton and other nearby places

Moderator note: Split from https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/okehampton-exeter-open-a-year-success.239826/ I took the train to Okehampton from Exeter St Davids on September 6th (a Tuesday) this year. The train was delayed in coming from Central and the station stops looked interesting for...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[Snow1964]

Looks like Government have allocated £13.5m to new Devon West station near Okehampton

A new station on the Dartmoor Line​

The new railway station will be built on the Dartmoor Line that was the first line to be reinstated under the Department for Transport’s ‘Restoring your Railway’ fund. The new station will include:

• step-free access to platforms
• car parking with electric vehicle charging points
• high quality cycle facilities
• a new bus stop

The new station is located close to the A30 junction and will be in addition to Okehampton’s existing station on the West side of the town.

Connecting communities​

The new hub will level up the Okehampton region, connecting communities in the town. It will also connect the wider West Devon and North Cornwall areas with Exeter.

West Devon transport hub allocated £13.5 million (Levelling Up Fund 2)

£13.5 million from the Levelling Up Fund has been provisionally allocated to West Devon for a new railway station on the eastern edge of Okehampton.

www.gov.uk

 

[yorksrob]

What an excellent good news story. Enjoyed my visit there.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Looks like Government have allocated £13.5m to new Devon West station near Okehampton

West Devon transport hub allocated £13.5 million (Levelling Up Fund 2)

£13.5 million from the Levelling Up Fund has been provisionally allocated to West Devon for a new railway station on the eastern edge of Okehampton.

www.gov.uk

According support webpage west devon transport hub a snip at 15m sensible cost compared to other new construction stations announced recently.

 

[dk1]

What an excellent good news story. Enjoyed my visit there.

Isn’t it just. Glorious Devon.

 

[John R]

According support webpage west devon transport hub a snip at 15m sensible cost compared to other new construction stations announced recently.

It’s only single track though, so only one short-ish platform although I see that despite that it will still have a lift and bridge, which wouldn’t usually be the case for a single platform station.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

It’s only single track though, so only one short-ish platform and no need for the hugely expensive lifts that are usually needed for level access to two platform stations. So maybe comparing apples with pears.

Aldridge is only a single platform quoted at 30m

 

[Ashley Hill]

It’s only single track though, so only one short-ish platform although I see that despite that it will still have a lift and bridge, which wouldn’t usually be the case for a single platform station.

Does seem a bit of an overkill for a single platform.

 

[jfowkes]

Why does Okehamptom need a second station? (Genuine question, I know nothing about the town or the area)

 

[chappers]

Why does Okehamptom need a second station? (Genuine question, I know nothing about the town or the area)

I think the parkway station is intended to capture traffic off the A30, which has several links to geographically remote areas. Okehampton Station isn’t particularly easy to get too from the surrounding areas, so this should help capture some of that traffic

 

[uglymonkey]

Better interchange - nearer the A38 for commuters, better parking - not having to "slog" up and down the hill at existing station. Room for lorries and "future" freight interchange. (ha ha ha ha) better connections for buses.

Sorry A30

 

[SynthD]

It looks like the road access is on the south side of the track, Higher Stockley Mead. The footbridge could be for access from Kellans Lane, where houses are being built.

 

[Magdalia]

I visited Okehampton a long time ago, and walked up the hill from the town to the station. It was long and steep, I wouldn't be able to do that now.

The bit that intrigues me here is the suggestion that the new station could open in 2025. We have quite a bit of experience of new stations in this part of the world: Cambridge North, Cambridge South, Soham and Waterbeach. None were built, or are being built, that quickly. Is this already through all of the usual consultation and planning processes?

 

[YorkRailFan]

It was long and steep, I wouldn't be able to do that now.

There is a bus service from the town to the station, and vice versa. Multiple bus services in fact.

 

[John Luxton]

Why does Okehamptom need a second station? (Genuine question, I know nothing about the town or the area)

Station Road in Okehampton has a lot of Victorian houses without drive ways, thus a lot of on street parking. Since the original station reopened traffic has increased significantly and buses are making their way up and down to the station. The station car park is not that big either. When I have used the car park myself I tend to get there early and have always found a space, but I have read that it can get full and then people are competing with residents on Station Road for what little space remains. There is a good case for Okehampton Parkway and it is to be located close to the main A30 route.

 

[uglymonkey]

I thought they were going to change station road to "residents only" parking ? Most towns have this for on road parking near a station - otherwise they get completely clogged up with commuters. My town for example has free parking in the streets all around the station - but no parking without permit for one hour a day (11-12) which stops commuters using the adjoining roads and leaving their car there all day. A good sign in a way, that Okehampton is now an active, well used station again and surrounding streets have to "catch up" with this new arrangement (permits or otherwise).

 

[Master29]

Better interchange - nearer the A38 for commuters, better parking - not having to "slog" up and down the hill at existing station. Room for lorries and "future" freight interchange. (ha ha ha ha) better connections for buses.

Sorry A30

Except it's nowhere near the A38

 

[DelW]

Except it's nowhere near the A38

Hence the correction at the bottom of the post you've just quoted .

 

[davetheguard]

Back in January 2024, the footbridge roof at Okehampton station was damaged in a storm and sections of it torn off and landed on the track.

I noticed on a recent journey through the station that the footbridge is still closed off & out of use. The corrugated iron roof and its supporting girders have been completely removed from the footbridge and a barrier placed across the bottom of the steps. To get to the operational upside platform from the downside platform & former yard area (which has the small railway museum, youth hostel, a cafe, bike hire business, and some additional car parking) is currently via a road under the railway, and then up the station approach road; a longer route than via the footbridge.

A couple of questions in the hope that someone may know the answers:

1. I believe Devon County Council owns the downside buildings at Okehampton station; Network Rail now own the upside buildings. Who owns the footbridge that links the two?

2. Is it planned to repair & re-open the footbridge, and what are the timescales?

3. Although trains terminating & returning to Exeter stop just short of the footbridge, would an occupation & line closure be needed to repair it?

Thanks in advance for any information.