Okehampton

[whole diary]

[bradshaw]

Network Rail is inviting the local community to attend an information event next week to find out more about forthcoming improvements to the level crossings along the Dartmoor Line.

Network Rail is holding a drop-in event next Wednesday 4 August at Bow Village Hall from 3.30pm until 7pm, where people will be able to find out more about these upgrades.

Work also due to start on GSM-R^▸ (Global System for Mobile communications - Railway. A simple mobile phone that has been fitted to the turbos to allow them to operate on lines that are not covered by the cab secure radio (CSR). This allows the Network Rail control centre to send simple STOP messages to the driver or the driver to contact the controller in emergency only. When this system is in operation a guard must be provided when in passenger operation.) masts in August as planning permission has come through.

https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/dartmoor-line-level-crossing-upgrade-information-event

[ChrisB]

Network Rail is inviting the local community to attend an information event next week to find out more about forthcoming improvements to the level crossings along the Dartmoor Line.

Network Rail is holding a drop-in event next Wednesday 4 August at Bow Village Hall from 3.30pm until 7pm, where people will be able to find out more about these upgrades.

Work also due to start on GSM-R^▸ (Global System for Mobile communications - Railway. A simple mobile phone that has been fitted to the turbos to allow them to operate on lines that are not covered by the cab secure radio (CSR). This allows the Network Rail control centre to send simple STOP messages to the driver or the driver to contact the controller in emergency only. When this system is in operation a guard must be provided when in passenger operation.) masts in August as planning permission has come through.

https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/dartmoor-line-level-crossing-upgrade-information-event

For those unable to make the drop-in event in person, there will also be a virtual event on Thursday 5 August between 5pm and 6pm which can be joined via the following URL - https://tinyurl.com/28x2f27y.

[REVUpminster]

Bow is one station that will never reopen unless something ever comes of a possible government policy of allowing building within 1 km of a station even if green belt/field.

Once a year we go to St Bartholomew's church which is stranded a mile outside the town and the station is a further away.
No shops except a garden centre and a coop and they are not in the town. Chocolate box it is not.

[ChrisB]

I think the reference here is to level crossings, not stations

[infoman]

BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) spotlight local news for the South west had a news item about the foot crossings on the line.

Available on the i-player catch up thingy till approx 18:00pm on thursday

[REVUpminster]

I might be shot down in flames but I heard a whisper that the line will open 12/13 September.

[RichardB]

I might be shot down in flames but I heard a whisper that the line will open 12/13 September.

Take it from me, it won't be opening to passengers as soon as that.

There will probably be trains running though - driver training.

[REVUpminster]

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/detailed/gb-nr:OKE/2021-12-12/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt

Okehampton trains on realtime from timetable change.

[Pb_devon]

The first train arrival at Exeter at 10am isn’t going to attract commuters!
Or is this just a draft and there will be something earlier?
Perhaps RichardB would comment (thanks).

[ChrisB]

As previously mentioned many times, you can’t rely on RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website) until the timetables are finally signed off by NR^» (Network Rail - home page). Until then, always subject & likely to be changed.

If a peak timetable to be offered, I suggest it’ll need more than a single train to avoid major overcrowding? Is that possible?

[RailCornwall]

The first train arrival at Exeter at 10am isn’t going to attract commuters!
Or is this just a draft and there will be something earlier?
Perhaps RichardB would comment (thanks).

12 Dec is a Sunday this year, the usual day of the week for TT changes, click forward on RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website) to Monday you'll see the full service then.

[RichardB]

As previously mentioned many times, you can’t rely on RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website) until the timetables are finally signed off by NR^» (Network Rail - home page). Until then, always subject & likely to be changed.

If a peak timetable to be offered, I suggest it’ll need more than a single train to avoid major overcrowding? Is that possible?

Spot on re RTT, ChrisB.  The timetable appearing now is simply a placeholder but it does make public the planned new service when it does start (as long as that is 12 Dec or after).  As has been said, the commitment is to open in 2021.  I'm not picking up anything that suggests this isn't achievable.

The line will continue to be one train working past Crediton but track etc improvements will allow the hourly service from sometime next year.  Expect 4 coach trains at busy times. 

. 

[ChrisB]

There was hope that it may well be possibke to lauch prior to Dec 12….and not heard anything to say yet that isn’t going to he possible either. Of course, nothing will be posted to RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website) until nearer actual launch date - which will first need to be confirmed by NR^» (Network Rail - home page) and secondly by the TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) once they have driver training well under way.

With a good wind, I reckon there may be a soft launch prior if only to reduce the number of train enthusiasts wanting to travel on the first day & overwhelming the offered service (which they will, given half a chance)

[phile]

Just looked at RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website) now and first arrival at Exeter (Central) is 0805.   Regarding Timetable dates, the September one is an additional one due to COVID changes so is not starting on a Sunday like the two proper ones in May and December for which systems are set up. 

[The Tall Controller]

As this ties in with the start of the December timetable, it could be a similar situation to May when the timetable was uploaded to RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website) and then swiftly removed.

There's still no confirmation of an official start date so I wouldn't take this information as any form of revelation.