Okehampton

[whole diary]

[grahame]

https://www.bloodandcustard.com/BR-CoachingSetsOkehamptonCarCarrier.html

The Okehampton Car Carrier service was introduced by British Railways on 18th June 1960 with the first train being hauled from Surbiton to Exeter by rebuilt Merchant Navy 35029 ‘Ellerman Lines’ with West Country 34023 ‘Blackmore Vale’ undertaking the return section to /from Okehampton. The passenger rolling stock was Green-liveried BR standard Mk 1 3-Cor set 564 (BSK^▸ (Brake Standard Corridor (carriage)) + CK + BSK) attached to the rear of seven lined-maroon GUV vehicles.

On this day - 12th September 1964 - this service ceased

[RichardB]

Another milestone approaching, the station buffet and toilets will reopen on Saturday 24 September

https://www.okehampton-today.co.uk/news/okehampton-station-confirms-cafe-will-open-this-month-562756?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR3vi1qqH8-JrzdN7CUGR1anhEJBWHlO5_ji1UYtZ8lD4bWTKg2wKZm360Q#Echobox=1663221945

[infoman]

Will it be open seven days a week, and what are the planned opening and closing times?

[RichardB]

Will it be open seven days a week, and what are the planned opening and closing times?

They are currently operating from the booking hall, serving in the doorway to the platform, and open seven days a week, 7AM - 5PM, so I'd guess it will be the same in the Buffet itself.

Here's their Facebook page for further info https://www.facebook.com/amazingbrowniebakers

[RichardB]

Here's the press story from yesterday's opening of the Dartmoor National Park Information Centre and buffet at Okehampton station yesterday.

The story isn't quite right in that the Dartmoor Railway Association shop, waiting room, booking hall and booking office are still to finish - should be done by the end of October and will certainly be done for the first anniversary of reopening on 20 November

https://www.okehampton-today.co.uk/news/cafe-and-information-centre-opens-at-okehampton-station-565457

Buffet opening hours confirmed - "The cafe will be open from 7am to 5pm Monday to Saturday and 9am to 4pm on Sundays."   

[RichardB]

PS - I got the Period 6 (mid Aug - mid Sept) journey figures on Friday - 23,516 journeys made on the Dartmoor Line in those four weeks.  This follows three periods of 18,000+ since the hourly service was introduced in May.  All more than double the pre-opening projections. 

As you can imagine, much delight at these figures.

[grahame]

PS - I got the Period 6 (mid Aug - mid Sept) journey figures on Friday - 23,516 journeys made on the Dartmoor Line in those four weeks.  This follows three periods of 18,000+ since the hourly service was introduced in May.  All more than double the pre-opening projections. 

As you can imagine, much delight at these figures.

Congratulations - and all the more remarkable if that's 20th August (a strike day) to 16th September, so taking in the strike that was planned but cancelled on 15th, and the changes people made to their plans on the passing of The Queen.  Do you know how many trains were timetabled, and how many cancelled, during that period?

[RichardB]

PS - I got the Period 6 (mid Aug - mid Sept) journey figures on Friday - 23,516 journeys made on the Dartmoor Line in those four weeks.  This follows three periods of 18,000+ since the hourly service was introduced in May.  All more than double the pre-opening projections. 

As you can imagine, much delight at these figures.

Congratulations - and all the more remarkable if that's 20th August (a strike day) to 16th September, so taking in the strike that was planned but cancelled on 15th, and the changes people made to their plans on the passing of The Queen.  Do you know how many trains were timetabled, and how many cancelled, during that period?

Thanks Graham.  The period started on Sunday 21 August and ran through to Saturday 17 September inclusive.   Part of the reason for the increase are students travelling to Exeter College.  I don't know the number of trains I'm afraid but of course nothing ran on strike days.

[RichardB]

There is now a Facebook page for the Bulleid Buffet at Okehampton station.  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085965062565

[bobm]

PS - I got the Period 6 (mid Aug - mid Sept) journey figures on Friday - 23,516 journeys made on the Dartmoor Line in those four weeks.  This follows three periods of 18,000+ since the hourly service was introduced in May.  All more than double the pre-opening projections. 

As you can imagine, much delight at these figures.

Congratulations - and all the more remarkable if that's 20th August (a strike day) to 16th September, so taking in the strike that was planned but cancelled on 15th, and the changes people made to their plans on the passing of The Queen.  Do you know how many trains were timetabled, and how many cancelled, during that period?

Thanks Graham.  The period started on Sunday 21 August and ran through to Saturday 17 September inclusive.   Part of the reason for the increase are students travelling to Exeter College.  I don't know the number of trains I'm afraid but of course nothing ran on strike days.

Would also be interesting to know the numbers using the associated shuttle bus.

[DaveHarries]

PS - I got the Period 6 (mid Aug - mid Sept) journey figures on Friday - 23,516 journeys made on the Dartmoor Line in those four weeks.  This follows three periods of 18,000+ since the hourly service was introduced in May.  All more than double the pre-opening projections.

Stagecoach South West, who operate the buses between Bude, Okehampton and Exeter (Services 6 & 6A) have announced substantial revisions to these routes meaning that there will be fewer journeys on those buses effective 30th October 2022.

- Buses from Bude to Exeter will not operate via. Launceston and will be curtailed to Okehampton and will terminate at Okehampton Station for onward travel to Exeter. The number of journeys will be 5 per day in school termtimes (4 during holidays) each way on Mondays to Fridays with only 4 on Saturdays. No Sunday or Bank Holiday service. Journeys to be numbered as Service 6.

- Launceston to Exeter is also lost but Devon County Council have announced that they have tendered (or are going to) for a new Service 306 between Launceston and Okehampton. No operator has been confirmed for this Service 306 yet although Stagecoach have said it won't be them so I would guess Transport for Cornwall might do this one as I think they have a base at Launceston.

New timetable for Service 6 between Bude and Okehampton:
http://nationaljourneyplanner.travelinesw.com/swe-ttb/XSLT_TTB_REQUEST?deleteAssignedStops_ttb=1&command=direct&itdLPxx_displayHeader=false&type_ttb=any&language=en&sessionID=0&requestID=0&itdLPxx_template=tableResults&coordOutputFormat=WGS84%5Bdd.ddddd%5D&outputFormat=0&std3_commonMacro=ttb&std3_contractorMacro=&line=swe%3A33006%3A%20%3AH%3Ay10%3A2

New timetable for Service 6A between Exeter and Okehampton:
http://nationaljourneyplanner.travelinesw.com/swe-ttb/XSLT_TTB_REQUEST?deleteAssignedStops_ttb=1&command=direct&itdLPxx_displayHeader=false&type_ttb=any&language=en&sessionID=0&requestID=0&itdLPxx_template=tableResults&coordOutputFormat=WGS84%5Bdd.ddddd%5D&outputFormat=0&std3_commonMacro=ttb&std3_contractorMacro=&line=swe%3A3306A%3A%20%3AH%3Ay10%3A2

It is worth noting that, despite the info from Stagecoach which states that Okehampton Station will be the terminus of both routes, the stop at the station is not included in the new timetables. The changes to the Okehampton buses are part of a very wide (!) range of changes across Torbay, Exeter and North Devon. The waiting times at Okehampton for changes between buses looks to be about 20 minutes in each direction in the Town Centre.

The info from Stagecoach is now on their website - https://www.stagecoachbus.com/promos-and-offers/south-west/south-west-timetables - although you will have to click "see more" as there are so many changes there which include the severing of all direct bus links between Exeter and Barnstaple although Devon CC have procured contracted services over the withdrawn sections as you will see.

In the meantime I expect that the passenger figures between Okehampton and Exeter may rise further once the bus changes come in.

Dave

[IndustryInsider]

Not sure if this was posted anywhere, but it should be on here so here it is:

https://news.gwr.com/news/dartmoor-line-passes-250-000-journeys-on-its-first-anniversary-as-rail-minister-visits-to-mark-official-opening-of-station-building

[Pb_devon]

News of the completion of the station buildings renovation, featuring RichardB of this parish!

Okehampton train station 1950s renovation project complete https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-64038088

Looks very impressive. Well done all concerned.

[REVUpminster]

The heritage group kept that station and platforms in very good condition beforehand.

[RichardB]

More information about the station restoration project, including more photos, here -

https://dartmoorline.com/2022/12/ribbon-cutting-to-mark-completion-of-okehampton-station-heritage-restoration-project/

It's been a real privilege and pleasure to work on (as has been everything to do with the Dartmoor Line reopening).

REVUpmister is absolutely right about the heritage group - the Dartmoor Railway Association. 

As part of the station project work, they have a new shop in the main station building.  I'm very pleased to have organised the funding for the fit out.   More info about the shop here -

https://www.dartmoor-railway-association.org/shop