Answers to recent queries on the
Okehampton line
Tony Hill
Okehampton line
Tony Hill
We are most grateful to Tony Hill who answers various points raised in the news Column as follows.
Okehampton line ( being marketed as the Dartmoor line )
Here are some updates with regards to some recent queries raised on the CRS website.
There are currently no plans to reintroduce services at Sampford Courtenay despite the platform having had t its surface retarmaced, and the coping slabs checked for clearances and the platform edge re-whitened.
Okehampton Parkway station ( current total costs £12m with a hoped for opening in early 2023) is planned to be on the eastern side of Okehampton next to Hameldown Road and the ever increasing new housing and the station car park ( which has been partly prepared and used as the main Network Rail and associated Contractors site offices and depot etc for the Infrastructure works on the line), is planned to be on the other side of the line and approached via Higher Stockley Mead, which is not far from the A30 dual carriageway.
There are no plans to reopen Bow or North Tawton Stations which are not well placed for these communities and are on a main bus route and only, at most, 8 miles from Copplestone station on the North Devon (Tarka) line, with an hourly service each way and a recently built large car park for Rail users.
It is not planned for Okehampton trains to call at Yeoford which would involve considerable works for the benefit of only a few passengers who can instead interchange at Crediton.
As for Heritage type trains between Okehampton and Meldon ...who knows ...it will likely be very challenging under ORR/National Rail/gBR regulations and requirements etc and with the future prospects of stone/ freight trains again and not helped by the removal of the Okehampton Ground Frame and plain lining of the associated connection to the former Down platform & Bude Bay, whose disconnected track currently remains in situ on mainly aesthetic grounds.
The immaculately maintained Downside platform and its building (which includes an excellent local railway museum) is still owned by Devon County Council (along with the station footbridge) and is let to the Dartmoor Railway Association.
The success of the Okehampton line will very much depend on its use by, besides Okehamton folk, those from and to the large rail desert of West Devon and North Cornwall and crucially the provision of a reliable and punctual train service, something that is currently seriously lacking on the Exeter-Salisbury part of this former Southern main line.
Here are some updates with regards to some recent queries raised on the CRS website.
There are currently no plans to reintroduce services at Sampford Courtenay despite the platform having had t its surface retarmaced, and the coping slabs checked for clearances and the platform edge re-whitened.
Okehampton Parkway station ( current total costs £12m with a hoped for opening in early 2023) is planned to be on the eastern side of Okehampton next to Hameldown Road and the ever increasing new housing and the station car park ( which has been partly prepared and used as the main Network Rail and associated Contractors site offices and depot etc for the Infrastructure works on the line), is planned to be on the other side of the line and approached via Higher Stockley Mead, which is not far from the A30 dual carriageway.
There are no plans to reopen Bow or North Tawton Stations which are not well placed for these communities and are on a main bus route and only, at most, 8 miles from Copplestone station on the North Devon (Tarka) line, with an hourly service each way and a recently built large car park for Rail users.
It is not planned for Okehampton trains to call at Yeoford which would involve considerable works for the benefit of only a few passengers who can instead interchange at Crediton.
As for Heritage type trains between Okehampton and Meldon ...who knows ...it will likely be very challenging under ORR/National Rail/gBR regulations and requirements etc and with the future prospects of stone/ freight trains again and not helped by the removal of the Okehampton Ground Frame and plain lining of the associated connection to the former Down platform & Bude Bay, whose disconnected track currently remains in situ on mainly aesthetic grounds.
The immaculately maintained Downside platform and its building (which includes an excellent local railway museum) is still owned by Devon County Council (along with the station footbridge) and is let to the Dartmoor Railway Association.
The success of the Okehampton line will very much depend on its use by, besides Okehamton folk, those from and to the large rail desert of West Devon and North Cornwall and crucially the provision of a reliable and punctual train service, something that is currently seriously lacking on the Exeter-Salisbury part of this former Southern main line.
150234 stands at Okehampton station - picture taken on the 8th November 2021. Copyright Craig Munday.
Many thanks Tony for this very comprehensive answer to the queries raised. We wish the Okehampton line every success.
Near
Cowley Bridge Jct.
Paul Barlow
Cowley Bridge Jct.
Paul Barlow
47854 XP64 livery on the 06.00 Preston to Paignton. (he loco bears the Brush type 4 fund headboard). approaches Cowley Junction on the 13th July 2002. Copyright Paul Barlow
Many thanks Paul.
Approaching
Oxford
Ron Kosys
Oxford
Ron Kosys
47427 approaches Oxford on the 9th August 1987. Copyright Ron Kosys
Many thanks to you Ron.