Okehampton-Tavistock. Discussion on reopening and potential use as a diversionary route

[whole diary]

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

If its the original plan I believe it's within the business park along with a freight terminal

[trainbuff]

Interesting. I am all up for a regular passenger service here. However, just to be pragmatic, how long would it take by rail to get to Exeter and how does this compare with road. I know there is a solid business case for the Tavistock reopening. 25 minutes by train versus over an hour by road in some cases.

Could this be the reason BAR  has apparently dropped out?

I must state absolutely though that I wish to see this line reopened. Any surveys or studies that members can point in my direction would be appreciated.

I can be quite "anal" trawling through these!

Thanks

[Plymboi]

Would this be along the existing line or a compeltely new line altogether, be a shame to not use the existing station which i beleive is beautiful station buildings!

Dents any possible Okehampton to Tavistock reopening!

[FlyingDutchman]

I don't see why, but I expect the viaduct would be one of the most expensive costs of reopening the Okehampton to Tavistock section.

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

On the original line the current station would be retained I don't know if this new proposal would include running into the current station or to terminate at the new one

[TonyK]

Signed it

[Chris from Nailsea]

Signed it (can't think why I hadn't done so before - sorry! ).  Chris.

[FlyingDutchman]

From Devon County Council Web Site

Devon County Councillors today (Wednesday 11 April) backed further plans to boost employment and business growth in Okehampton, agreeing to submit a planning application for a new train station east of the town.

The new station would link the town^s ^Opportunity Okehampton^ employment site with Exeter, and is close to the junction with the A30, so could serve a wider catchment area.

Members of the Council^s Cabinet also agreed to submit a revised planning application to broaden the scope of the employment site, to include non-food retail, distribution and a hotel, to permission previously granted for office and industrial land use and ancillary warehousing.

Funding for key infrastructure to open up the site would be drawn from the ^1.636 million allocated by the Council for commercial developments across Devon between 2012 and 2016/17, and would then be recouped as individual development plots are sold..

The town has been the focus of a great deal of support to businesses and local people seeking employment since a number of high profile business closures over the last 18 months.

Initiatives through the Council-coordinated Okehampton Works Partnership have provided over 140 people with employment training so far, with over 100 people finding new employment.

The County Council bought the employment site land from the Regional Development Agency last year with a view to it stimulating employment growth in the town, and has since been investigating the benefits for improving access by way of passenger rail services.

Okehampton^s existing railway station is not in a convenient location for many of the town^s residents, but a new shared footpath and cycleway as part of the new railway station development would link the new employment site to the existing housing and employment areas, as well as to the new station.

Some ^110,000 funding from Devon^s Local Transport Plan settlement funding would need to be allocated to the station, footpath/cycleway link and car park, to supplement  ^250,000 which has already been committed from Devon County Council^s own resources.

The Council^s Cabinet Member responsible for Economic Development, Cllr Will Mumford, said:

^Developing an efficient business infrastructure is an essential building block to supporting the local economy.  Making sure that the available employment site, which will complement the town^s existing Business Centre, has every opportunity to attract a wide range of business opportunities, and having the transport infrastructure to support it is critical.

^While the County Council is able to fund a significant amount of the work, further funding is needed.  Establishing planning permission for a new small train station will improve our chances of success in attracting Government funding, and in improving passenger rail services to Okehampton, which is being re-tendered by the Department for Transport.

^There will also be a continuing need for travel between Okehampton and Exeter for work, education, retail and leisure purposes, and creating a sustainable low carbon rail alternative will accommodate growth in housing and employment without exacerbating highway congestion.^

Councillor Christine Marsh, local Member for Okehampton Rural, said:

^I am delighted. This is great news for Okehampton and, hopefully, is the next step in achieving an improved passenger rail service for the town that will boost tourism and employment opportunities for local people.

[Chris from Nailsea]

In view of these latest developments, I've moved this topic from 'Shorter journeys in Devon' to here, as it's clearly becoming a campaign for new and improved services. 

[FlyingDutchman]

From BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) Website

In a debate, Devon county councillors agreed that the town's existing station was not in a convenient location for many residents or potential commuters.

A new station would also create a full commuter service to Exeter, the council heard.

Funding was still needed, but planning permission was the first step towards securing the route, the council said.

No national rail services currently include the Okehampton station, which opened in 1871. The station also has no car park.

Some heritage trail trains do include Okehampton, and some of those routes run to Exeter.

But the Conservative-led authority said a new station in an appropriate location would mean a proper, regular commuter service could be created.

The plans would also include a new combination footpath and cyclepath, as well as links to existing housing, it added.

[FlyingDutchman]

Signed it

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

No carpark eh?

[TonyK]

Looking at Google maps, and assuming the new station is next to the railway track, I wonder where it will go? Unless we have an Okehampton East as well as Okehampton West, I can't see the obvious spot that would not simply move the problem to the other side of town. I'm hoping to go there soon, for a look round, and a ride on the heritage stock.

[34104]

In todays Tavistock Times,there's a newspiece re the Granite way between Okehampton and Lydford,to the effect that the missing link between Southerly bridge and Station Road,Bridestowe has been subjected to compulsory purchase order action by DCC^» (Devon County Council - website).Currently,you have to leave the trail at Southerly bridge and take the main road to the Fox and Hounds pub,thence onto the Bridestowe road,once the CPO is processed,the complete 9 miles between Oke and Lydford will be direct.I was under the impression that CPO's could only be taken out on old railway lines where the need had been proven for the railway to be reinstated,didn't realise that cycle paths could also be deemed to warrant CPO action.I wonder what the implications of this are for the land beyond Lydford? There is a short stretch of cycle/footpath for about half a mile outside of Tavistock towards Lydford,if that were to be joined up to the Lydford path,it really would be a superbly scenic route.Preferably by rail also in future,of course.

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

looks like the fgw service is not starting until the first sunday in june this year, tickets are available from most stations in devon for the few which you can not get the ticket from (gunnislake,axminster,honiton) the devon day ranger is valid, you can also get the dartmoor sunday rover again this year valid on most busses in devon aswell as the x53 from weymouth aswell as the okehampton branch and from barnstaple on the tarka line down to digby and sowton on the avocet line aswell as the gunnislake branch