Great Western Coffee Shop

Modern railways reporting Network Rail have taken over the Okehampton Line from it's border at 183M 73CH. This is where the track separates to Barnstaple and Okehampton. It does not say if it goes beyond Okehampton to Meldon.

Okehampton is the target but Crediton the prize with a half hour service the station with greatest growth potential being only 15-20 mins from Exeter Central.

I have always felt GWR have feared the latent demand and an hourly service could not cope. 158s might have to go in favour of the 165/166.

I have always felt GWR have feared the latent demand and an hourly service could not cope. 158s might have to go in favour of the 165/166.

Would gladly see the 158s back on the Cardiff-Portsmouth line running on a line they were built for.

If NR have taken back ownership of the track then any use by a Heritage railway will need the locomotives and stock to be mainline certificated.
If the Dartmoor stock is not so certificated then they either have to obtain certification at a significant cost or remain physically separated.
Can anyone confirm what their status is?

My comment was promoted by the Trackwatch (p106) in the January Modern Railways says that the Okehapton line from th former boundary at 183m 79ch has been  brought back into Network Rail control.

Network rail are spending an awful lot of money on renewing track if they don't own it.

Will Meldon Quarry reopen? I thought that was only a rumour. Has the heritage line gone bust? I know heritage companies rise like Phoenix from the ashes. As an aside I did not see the Dartmouth Steam Railway on the list of heritage lines to get a grant or loan. South Devon Railway did; probably to put a floor in the toilet.

With the track laid at St Ives and tamping taking place, maybe some of the workforce will move to Okehampton? Three months to do the work before the timetable change.

Another trainload of sleepers to Okehampton from Westbury on Realtime trains 6G72 last night disappears after Crediton. 1200 tons.

66723 + 66039 to Fairwater Yard. Anybody know where that is?

Another trainload of sleepers to Okehampton from Westbury on Realtime trains 6G72 last night disappears after Crediton. 1200 tons.

66723 + 66039 to Fairwater Yard. Anybody know where that is?

Whilst the St Ives branch has been closed for 5 weeks, there has been more than track renewal work taking place.

There was a lot of manual work on the St Ives relaying as site access was a problem, and I believe the track work was all but done about 2 weeks ago.

A little historic note about the St Ives branch, opened 1st June 1877 it was Dual gauge from St Erth (called St Ives Road until branch opened) to Lelant Wharf and Broad gauge only beyond Lelant to St Ives.
The last line to be built to Brunel's Broad Gauge!

Approaching Carbis bay from St Erth there is a steep cutting that opens out at the St Ives end.
This was due to the line being built by many Cornish Miners who followed a rich Tin stream and went off course.
Gold (well Tin) in them there Hills.  ;D

616Q was it's designation

Comes back today at 1700hrs at Crediton to Westbury.

Also Modern Railways March issue still reporting a passenger service start up during the May timetable even if late summer with eight trains Mon-Sat and six on Sunday. It's a start.

Those trains look only a cigarette paper apart.

See here (https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/detailed/OKE/2021-05-17/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt)

Interesting Unadvertised Ordinary Passenger
Crew training perhaps

Class 2, so should be revenue earning services.

There are some buying opportunities also:

https://rmslocotec.com/for-sale

I fancy the 4BIG buffet but would Mrs OTC?

OTC

I am getting lost in the complexity of organisations ... but lots of rolling stock including two thumpers up for sale.

http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/mirror/dfsall.pdf

These are what Train Planners call 'Q paths'. They may not be required but they're there in system and can be used at short-notice.

For example, there is an unadvertised Q path for the Night Riviera to go via the Southern route on Sundays. It is hardly ever needed but its there for when it is. The same principle applies for these Okehampton trains in that they're there and ready for when services can start.

This Budget will also unlock more than £40 million of funding to reinstate passenger services on the OkehamptonExeter line, subject to final approval of costs and contracts. These investments will provide good quality transport links between communities, and improve employment opportunities across these areas."
 
Page 61   https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/966161/Budget_2021_Web_accessible.pdf

All good news.

These train paths seemed to have dropped to 2 trains in the morning and 2 in the evening. This could be a good sign for a May start with a covid service and the 8 trains following lockdown.

Annual Town Assembly - Monday 22nd March 2021, 7pm
This is a public meeting that is open to all Okehampton Town residents. 

Representatives from Network Rail will be in attendance and making a presentation about the reopening of the passenger rail service from Okehampton to Exeter.

The Agenda for the meeting which is being held virtually because of the ongoing pandemic restrictions, and details of how you can attend will be available from here or by contacting the office on 01837 53179 or townclerk@okehampton.gov.uk.

These train paths seemed to have dropped to 2 trains in the morning and 2 in the evening. This could be a good sign for a May start with a covid service and the 8 trains following lockdown.

A heads up for anyone keen to hear Network Rail's presentation of what should happen in the run-up to opening.

The website for https://www.okehampton.gov.uk/?fbclid=IwAR3P_iHi2ncfgSXWY-DDQxuZcFeaJ7dVVBxJGCOpJiOiCVMLtm_CfowL7FE]Okehampton Town Council[/url] lists the forthcoming Annual Town Assembly, to be held virtually on Monday 22 March 2021 at 7pm. The notice says:


If any Okehampton Town resident reading this would like to watch and report back to us, I am sure we will all be very interested. You never know - they may even allow guests.

Presumably, this includes all the money so far spent and/or earmarked for restoration of services.

Don't know many builders that supply the materials before they know if they are getting paid.

It's not a case of that.  Network Rail have clearly bought the materials - if it came to it (and let's face it, right now this really doesn't look like it is going to happen), they would be moved for use elsewhere.

2022 timetable
Additional infrastructure work will take place on the route to enable GWR to increase the service to hourly during 2022. More details will be published on this website when available. 

From https://dartmoorline.com/
Running every two hours at first but plans for hourly service with infrastructure upgrades.
Will it be a passing loop or making the two single line back to double track as far as the junction?

Since the beginning of 2020, working in partnership with Great Western Railway (GWR), Network Rail has been carrying out detailed investigations to understand what infrastructure and railway control system improvements are needed to bring the Dartmoor Line up to the required standards to enable GWR to operate trains safely.

Now that the green light has been received and investigations have been completed, Network Rail engineers will start immediately to undertake a range of works including drainage, fencing and earthworks, and will lay over 11 miles of track, replace 24,000 concrete sleepers and install nearly 29,000 tonnes of ballast before running test trains on the track ahead of fully reopening the railway to passengers.

As part of these upgrades, improvements are also going to be made to Okehampton station including installing a ticket vending machine, Help Point, public address system, information screens, CCTV and free WiFi. A ‘Pay & Display' car park will also be introduced with dedicated disabled bays, and the station building and platform will be fully accessible.

Why is the line not being given an hourly train service from Day 1?

To bring the Dartmoor Line back into full operational use as quickly and safely as possible, a substantial amount of work needs to be carried out to the existing infrastructure.

Network Rail are focused on assessing and renewing the track, bridges and drainage to allow the line to re-open in 2021 with one train every two hours in service. Further work to upgrade the infrastructure will enable the line speed to be increased, permitting an hourly passenger service to start by summer 2022.

BBC breakfast news on friday(thats today) is reporting LIVE LIVE LIVE from Okehampton.

From https://dartmoorline.com/
Running every two hours at first but plans for hourly service with infrastructure upgrades.
Will it be a passing loop or making the two single line back to double track as far as the junction?

I can't see North Tawton, Bow, reopening as they are just too far from the villages. Yeoford has more development potential.

I may have missed it in all the flow of publicity - but will the trains be stopping at Sampford Courtney?

Answer is on www.dartmoorline.com - in short, no, they won't. 

The opening of a new station at Okehampton East will make Sampford Courtney even less viable, I'd have thought.

The Parkway station is likely to be a big hit with people driving in from N Cornwall and W Devon, and Exeter commuters. Driving in the Exeter at rush hour is terrible.

Is it known yet whether or not track will be relaid on both through platforms at Okehampton, and points for a (passing) loop installed or does the plan consist of a single stub with a connection to a separate Okehampton-Meldon section?

  the first stage consisting of 2.6km of railway line has now been renewed along the Dartmoor Line. There are 3 further sections to do over the coming weeks.

Network Rail update on Twitter


1.6 miles.  Fabulous stuff.

They’re looking for a new logo for the Dartmor Line, closing date May 23

https://dartmoorline.com/2021/04/design-the-dartmoor-logo/

How about a prison?

The Avocet and Tarka lines have animals and a Dartmoor pony would be the obvious choice if an animal were chosen.

Not sure where the staff for the trains will live. All to familiar problem in the South and South West where people to provide local services, of any kind, are priced out of the market.

We are really pleased to announce that Wales and Western have set a new record for our region and installed around 11 miles of new track in just under 4 weeks on the Dartmoor Line as part of the Governments restoring your Railway initiative

And how long has it taken to even think about relaying 3.5 miles of track on the Portishead line  ?
At least 1040 weeks by my reckoning !

There was a few second on Spotlight yesterday to say the track relaying had been completed.

This line must open before December. After all passenger trains, if not for covid, would have run last summer on Sundays even if at a lower speed.

BBC local news for south west england showing pictures of the ballast and track being laid at Okehampton.

BBC local news is available for 24 hours only on the i-player thingy

Just watched it - thanks! It's at https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000w8dx/spotlight-evening-news-15052021

and is available until 1615 on 15 May 2021.

Till 16th May.

Went to Okehampton today. doesn't open to 11am for platform 1 and 2 for the small museum, bookshop, and some refreshments.

Very nice pictures, REVUpminster.

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 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.

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

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).

As previously mentioned many times, you can’t rely on RTT until the timetables are finally signed off by NR. 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?

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 and then swiftly removed.

Perhaps they could tweak it so it is at least clockface during the middle part of the day.   Much easier to market.  Much easier to remember.

Regarding train enthusiasts on the first train. Maybe something over the weekend 2nd 3rd October?

https://dartmoorline.com/news/

Also 30/75 speed restriction sign has appeared on the branch.

12 Dec is a Sunday this year, the usual day of the week for TT changes, click forward on RTT to Monday you'll see the full service then.

No reason why the GBTT can't be 07:20, 09:20, 11:20, 13:20, 15:20, 18:20 and 20:20 from Okehampton.  Not going to get into delay / repay margins even if the train leaves 5 minutes after boarding as arrivals will still be on time. Turn around on the 11:18 arrival probably mean that a WTT of 11:20 would be out (and little point in changing the WTTs if they give an issue at Crediton.

You're looking at the wrong column, the departures from Okehampton are are on the right and are x20, xx24 and xx25, the xx24s are more likely to have a GBTT departure of xx25 giving a clockface timetable.
The times on the left are the arrival times at Okehampton, not the departure time from Exeter.

What's strange is the last row arrival with no associated departure.

GW608  - CREDITON TO COLEFORD (MELDON LINE) CREDITON TO OKEHAMPTON SINGLE  LINE

The  line  of  route  GW608  has  been  extended  to  include  the  former  Dartmoor  Railway  from  former  Coleford  Junction  (183m  69ch) to  Meldon  Quarry  (Okehampton)  and  operated  by  Network  Rail  (infrastructure  manager).

Delete  all  references  to  line  of  route GW609. The  single  line  between  Crediton  and  former  Coleford  Junction  will  continue  to  be  known  as  the  Up/Down  Okehampton  line.   Beyond  former  Coleford  Junction,  and  to  Meldon  Quarry,  the  line  will  be  known  as  the  Up/Down  Dartmoor  single  line.    From Crediton,  the  down  direction  is  now  Okehampton. Until  further  notice  the  end  of  the  single  line  will  be  a  stop  board  (CN102)  at  the  Meldon  Quarry  end  of  Okehampton  (197m  28ch). A  fixed  distant  signal  (CN100)  will  be  provided  510  metres  on  approach  to  the  stop  board.

Method  of  working
The  One-train  working  regulations  applies  between  Crediton  (facing  points  23A)  and  Okehampton.    A  train-staff  labelled  “Crediton–  Okehampton”  has  been  provided  and  normally  kept  in  Crediton  signal  box. The  start  of  one-train  working  will  be  indicated  by  a  line  side  sign,  just  the  Meldon  side  of  facing  points  23A  (approximately  177m 30ch). The  section  signal  leading  onto  the  single  line  at  Crediton  will  be  CN4.    In  the  other  direction,  the  home  signal  will  be  CN3.

Speeds
Until  further  notice  a  temporary  speed  restriction  (TSR)  of  55  miles  per  hour  (mph)  applies  to  passenger  trains  (loaded  or  empty) and  light  locomotives  between  Crediton  (facing  points  23A)  and  195m  00ch.    A  30mph  TSR  applies  to  all  other  trains. A  differential  permissible  speed  of  30/45  mph  will  apply  between  195m  00ch  and  a  25mph  permissible  speed  which  starts  at  the Crediton  end  of  Okehampton. There  are  instances  of  a  lower  speed  TSR  inside  the  higher  (55  mph)  TSR.    Termination  indicator(s)  is  not  placed  at  the  end  of the  lower  speed  TSR,  instead  a  55mph  speed  indicator  will  be  placed  showing  the  higher  speed  TSR. See  also  Section  A  of  this  notice  concerning  lower  speed  TSR(s)  which  apply.

Level  Crossing
The  following  footpath  (FP)  and  user  worked  (UWC)  level  crossings  have  been  upgraded  to  Overlay  Miniature  Stop  Light  (OMSL) type,  with  red  (do  not  cross)  and  green  (safe  to  cross)  warning  lights  (R/G),  telephones  and  signs  giving  instructions  to  users: 184m  00ch  -  Penstone  FP 187m  04ch  -  Common  Moor  No.1  UWC 185m  41ch  -  Two  Moors  Way  FP 186m  15ch  -  Landsend  UWC 188m  03ch  -  Buttisland  UWC 194m  66ch  -  Corscombe  UWC New  whistle  (W)  board  shave  been  provided  on  either  side  of  Park  No.2  LC  (179m  54ch)  on  the  Okehampton  and  North  Devon single  lines.

Okehampton
A  single  platform  (situated  on  the  up  side  of  the  single  line)  capable  of  accommodating  4  x  23m  long  vehicles  has  been  provided at  Okehampton.

Automatic  Warning  System  (AWS)
A  permanent  AWS  magnet  has  been  provided  150  metres  on  approach  to  the  distant  signal  (CN100)  outside  Okehampton.    The magnet  is  not  suppressed  for  up  direction  movements  and  a  cancelling  indicator  will  be  provided. Telecommunications Until  further  notice,  the  GSM-R  area  remains  as  published  in  the  Sectional  Appendix  (start/end  183m  79ch).

See  local instructions  in  Section  D  of  this  notice  concerning  duties  of  the  guard  in  lieu  of  train  radio  coverage  on  the  single  line.
   

Heresay, but seems reasonable, so I'll post it, NR and GWR to announce formally start of service in December 'this coming week - Week beginning 11 Oct 2021', Advertising and promotion to start  shortly after. We'll see.

   The Dartmoor Line - arriving Saturday 20 November 2021

Excellent.  We’ll done to all involved and I’m sure it’ll be a great success and I’m looking forward to a trip on it next year.

Let’s hope it leads to other similar ‘quick win’ sensible reopenings in the future.  Let’s also hope GWR can provide a crew and train to operate it reliably!

What would be the embodiment of a "slow lose" silly future reopening, in your opinion?

Aberystwyth to Carmarthen and The Windsor Link are two that immediately spring to mind.

Aberystwyth to Carmarthen and The Windsor Link are two that immediately spring to mind.

BBC Spotlight local news for the South West of England has a feature on the opening of the Okehampton section of the line
at 13:30pm on tuesday, the item is available for 24 hours only.

...or if you missed that, you can read about it here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-58876411

I am looking forward to being on that first train! I was on the last train in 1972 before closure, so there is a nice symmetry  for me.

You may need to get in quick with the number of likely high profile free loaders on that first train  ;) Capacity may be severely limited.

Can IEPs be used to Okehampton? Apologies if this has been answered elsewhere...

I don't know the answer, but I am certainly ready to be entertained by the discussion.

Can IEPs be used to Okehampton? Apologies if this has been answered elsewhere...

I suspect that they’re not guage-checked

Not wishing to put the knockers on it but surely gauge clearance on all stock will need rechecking due to the replacement of track along the entire length. The line to NR is essentially a whole new piece of engineering so the laying down of the new wouldn't necessarily be in the precise same location as the former 'heritage' track.

Hmm! In view of all the modern planning, measuring and control techniques now available, is it likely that Network Rail installed so much new track in the 'wrong' place?

A16 year old has won the competition to design the Dartmoor Line logo.

https://www.devonlive.com/news/local-news/teenager-designs-dartmoor-rail-line-6188382

(https://i.ibb.co/3CKnhbY/0-JS250197793.jpg)

I was once told that the BR Totem sign was designed by a Swindon Apprentice who might not have been any older.  Is this true?

I see the first train due to Okehampton on public opening day is the rail head treatment “leaf buster”.  Probably a good idea remembering the problems the HST tour had a few years back. 

 https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:H14689/2021-11-20/detailed (https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:H14689/2021-11-20/detailed)

Good idea as it is passing. You don't want the first returning passenger train to go sliding through Crediton, and not stopping until Newton St Cyres.

Presumably though the 2Kxx & 2Exx trains are those in passenger service while the 2Zxx services are driver training runs.

Strange to run an empty train to Okehampton to make up the additional 0830. Maybe if St David's is packed it will run passenger. What are the odds a turbo makes the first trip. There seems to be four down here at the moment Exmouth-Paignton.

Bit of a do at Okehampton this morning,over on the GWR Facebook page That friendly Chap Tim Dunn is reporting from the station ,with Mark Hopwood & Sir Peter Hendy,and none other than the sos transport Grant Shapps.

Strange to run an empty train to Okehampton to make up the additional 0830. Maybe if St David's is packed it will run passenger. What are the odds a turbo makes the first trip. There seems to be four down here at the moment Exmouth-Paignton.

Here's the link to full FB broadcast:
https://www.facebook.com/gwruk/videos/1239185533252684/

A few glitches and Tim Dunn struggled a bit broadcasting live, even with cue cards, but overall not bad for a social media live broadcast.

Btw, isn't it time to add Okehampton to the list of services in the title 'Shorter Journeys in Devon' along with Barnstaple, Exmouth etc? :-)

Your wish is my command...

Train every hour Saturday. Wonder what stock and if short forms occur elsewhere. Soon find out.

I have seen pictures of a 150 being specially spruced up ... and understand it's one of two getting that treatment.

It looks to have all gone to plan this morning, so far.

Even managing to sensibly plan in a visit from the Rail Head Treatment Train first thing.

Brilliant news to see it up and running.  I'll be visiting as soon as I get chance.  Let's hope for two things: 1) The service is reliable.  Few crew shortages or capacity/infrastructure problems.  2) The service is well used.  Nothing will send a clearer message of positivity towards others with reopening ambitions.

Glad to see the usual mess applies to the fares to Okehampton.

I looked up fares from Pershore on brfares.com and found that there is a via Worcester fare. Off peak return £44.90 with Senior railcard. Its not clear if this means Via Worcestershire parkway as well.

However even when the National rail enquiries journey planner gives me a journey via Worcester Shrub hill the fare given is the not London fare. £64.60.

Putting right a terrible wrong

I see the Transport Minister and e-scooter fan Grant Shapps has been dressing up as a character from Thomas The Tank Engine, waving a green flag and blowing a whistle.

He was reopening a railway line in Devon, a line running across the top of Dartmoor, where a kindly driver once let me, aged 12, have a go at the controls of his train.

This tiny restoration of a small part of a lost line fills me with rage. It should never have been closed. It is not nearly enough. It was so beautiful I still sometimes dream of travelling on it again, 50 years after it was ripped up. It was a full-sized express main line between London and Plymouth, still badly needed every summer and every time the other route, along the sea, is washed away by storms at Dawlish.

The reinstatement of such lines, and there are so many of them, would do far more good to far more people than silly high-speed vanity projects such as HS2. We have let the car and the lorry rule this country far too long, spreading noise, ugliness and filth over town and country alike. The closure of railways in the 1960s was a terrible mistake and there has never been a better time to put it right.

On the travel to work timed train from Okehampton this morning, seven passengers.

https://twitter.com/BusAndTrainUser/status/1462682492058710017

Indeed - and I can actually spot a friend in that picture!  :)

That's the 0924 though - anyone know how the numbers were looking on the 0724 travel to work "commuter" service which only carried 7 passengers yesterday?

Typeface nerds will have spotted that while the new signage has GWR branding, it uses what appears to be Rail Alphabet font for the station name and other information. GWR have previously used the Glypha font on running-in boards, at Filton Abbey Wood for example.

I see this as an improvement!

Typeface nerds will have spotted that while the new signage has GWR branding, it uses what appears to be Rail Alphabet font for the station name and other information. GWR have previously used the Glypha font on running-in boards, at Filton Abbey Wood for example.

I see this as an improvement!

And today sees the first service cancellations due to crew shortage.

Which by the way Okehampton has relocated somewhere in South America according to the live service map above.

Now that the trains are back and the cafe is due to reopen, does this also herald the return, I wonder, of Percy the station cat?


Edit to add that Percy left the station for new digs with the closure of the heritage operation some while back.

And today sees the first service cancellations due to crew shortage.

Which by the way Okehampton has relocated somewhere in South America according to the live service map above.

Adopted cats haven't stayed put throughout lockdown and reopening. Mango from Tesco at Tiverton seems to have relocated before I was able to buy my own toilet paper again. I don't like to ask.

It may be of interest to some that UKRailtours are running a trip to Okehampton (and Paignton) on Saturday 26th March, picking up at Paddington, Slough, Reading and Swindon. Out via Bristol and return via Westbury and TransWilts Full details on their web site

I know it's been fixed for a couple of weeks now, but the booking engine now is operating correctly for Okehampton, all ranges of tickets are now available. Taken the plunge and am travelling to Okehampton tomorrow from Perranwell for a day out.

Should be a fun day.

The bus down to Okehampton centre is a necessity, more so the return to the station, the walk would be quite a schlep. ...

For those of us who have not yet been there, how does it compare to Liskeard to Coombe Junction?

Funnily enough, I have walked up to Okehampton station from the town - three times in the last year, once in a downpour! - but I've not walked Coombe Jn - Liskeard.  Okehampton is a steep, fairly unrelenting walk but not all that long - I've done it in 12 mins.  The 118 is very welcome.  There's talk of a new very local operator providing an additional town bus too in the near future.

Tempting

https://www.ukrailtours.com/product/springtime-hoovering-in-devon/

https://www.gwr.com/~/media/gwr/pdfs/planned-engineering/2022/rail-improvement-work-crediton-february-2022.pdf?la=en (https://www.gwr.com/~/media/gwr/pdfs/planned-engineering/2022/rail-improvement-work-crediton-february-2022.pdf?la=en)

Crediton-Okehampton services replaced by buses 19-27/02/2022 & 25/04-09/05/2022 due to engineering work. 

This work is essential to allow the hourly service to come in from (all being well) the May timetable change.

The work is hardly decreasing journey times.  I believe there is an allowance for future stop at Okehampton Parkway.

The hourly service needs to work with the potential for an Okehampton Parkway stop and, yes, the work is essential to make it all stack up. 

It may be of interest to some that UKRailtours are running a trip to Okehampton (and Paignton) on Saturday 26th March, picking up at Paddington, Slough, Reading and Swindon. Out via Bristol and return via Westbury and TransWilts Full details on their web site

Not sure what happened on the way back.  Delayed at Exeter St David’s for 45 mins and 75 down by Chippenham.

looks like both the special and the service train were there at the same time, thought it was worked as one train at a time?

We went to Paignton too (just over 2 hours there) where the picture was taken. We stopped for ten minutes at Okehampton - just time to get off the train before we had to get back on by the time we had walked through to the platform.

looks like both the special and the service train were there at the same time, thought it was worked as one train at a time?

..............

As an aside I can't upload photos without using flkr.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6EaDi5Az2g

Charter train arriving at Paignton Saturday, fouling the level crossing which took about 15 minutes to clear..

Link not working for me, but is this the one?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6EaDi5Az2g

Link looks the same and it is the one. I have posted another with the train clearing the station.

Also comment on the unnecessary and juvenile hooliganism of load shouting/ bellowing by a few UKR ‘Customers’ in the rear of the train as it left Okehampton; which has been recorded on a posted YouTube, and was much to the disapproval of the many locals and supporters of the very successful reopening of the line to regular trains, who were at Okehampton station to welcome this train.

As an aside I can't upload photos without using flkr.

Flickr is free for a basic account, which lets you host photos and show them here. It isn't too complicated, and requires nothing more than an email address. You can go down the route of using it to share photos with friends and the like, but I don't. I used to use Photobucket, which went subscription. Other hosting sites are available.

There may be some guidance on how to use it to post pictures here - if not, and if there's a need, I'll draft something. Otherwise, I'm happy to post other folks' pictures, but I'm not always around.

I do have a basic flkr account and the pictures did display before but I must be doing something wrong.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/revupminster/

Crisp real-time cab view, Exeter to Okehampton, tweeted by the Rail Delivery Group.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EP8UsYGNFR4

Mark

Lovely! I hadn't realised there was such a restricted way out from that side of EXD.

Crisp real-time cab view, Exeter to Okehampton, tweeted by the Rail Delivery Group.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EP8UsYGNFR4

Mark

Did we ever identify what track changes are being done to enable the hourly each direction service? I think we had lots of best guesses but nothing definite

HOURLY TIMETABLE START CONFIRMED

The hourly service on The Dartmoor Line will commence Sunday 15th May.

The service, despite being 2 hourly to begin with, has been a big success with usage far exceeding expectations. The hourly service will give customers a better choice for their journeys. The belief is, this will give another boost to the usage of the service.

Before the hourly service commences, there will be essential maintenance on the line resulting in the line closing for two weeks. Bus replacement to Crediton will be available during this time. We will post a reminder nearer the time.

All the through platforms are bi-directional so all movements are possible. the train was leaving platform 3 which is in effect the northbound local. Platforms 1 and 3 can also hold two separate trains ie The platforms could have a SWR train and the Paignton-Exmouth local could still reverse.

It wasn't that, but the way the outbound train seemed to hold up the inbound that struck me as a bit limiting.

The only way out of that is to build a local flyover. There is space using New Yard and the long shunt line that nearly reaches Cowley Bridge to take a track over the main line. It would be very expensive. Getting rid of Red Cow level crossing might be cheaper to increase line speeds.

Are there really enough trains needing to cross sides to justify that? Hardly - even Paddington has made do without a flyover so far. There, a couple of extra lines from Ladbroke Grove inwards allow for paths to be plaited. So for Exeter one extra line should suffice, and as you say that exists in New Yard with a bit of rejigging.

Dartmoor Line set for upgrade work in preparation for start of hourly services

Network Rail is set to begin 15 days of engineering upgrades on the Dartmoor Line in preparation for the introduction of hourly services.

Next week, from Monday 25 April until the early hours of Tuesday 10 May, Network Rail engineers will be upgrading parts of the 14-mile stretch of Dartmoor Line which currently carries two-hourly Great Western Railway (GWR) passenger services between Okehampton and Exeter.

Along the Dartmoor Line, at Fatherford and Coleford, engineers will be further improving the drainage and track bed to enable faster line speeds ready for the increase to hourly services from mid-May.

These latest upgrades form part of the second stage of the Dartmoor Line reopening, building upon the reintroduction of regular passenger services last year to now delivering an hourly service.

While this engineering work is ongoing, a reduced train service will continue to operate between Exeter and Crediton with a rail replacement bus service in operation between Crediton and Okehampton. Trains services on the Tarka Line between Exeter and Barnstaple will continue to run as usual. Two-hourly train services to Okehampton will resume from Tuesday 10 May, with hourly services starting from Sunday 15 May...

Why couldn't this have been done before the line was opened?

https://twitter.com/networkrailwest

Puzzle?? Renewing track and drainage in the Fatherford area; I thought this had been done in the recent record breaking track renewal.

Awkward that track laid in 2021 has had to be lifted and relayed just a year later.

The number of passengers using a reopened rail service in Devon, which had been shut for nearly 50 years, is about double what was expected, according to train operator GWR.

120000 journeys, 300 days, 30 services per day - roughly 13 passengers per service?

Mark

Excellent - though of course it depends on who's expectations we're talking about.   For many, this great success was fully anticipated - and saying that is not to lessen the achievement.

(https://www.bloodandcustard.com/BR-CoachingSetsOkehamptonCarCarrier_files/image001.jpg)

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 + CK + BSK) attached to the rear of seven lined-maroon GUV vehicles.

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

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.

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.

Will there ever be a chance that the heritage line to Meldon Viaduct, not that long out of use, could now be reopened as a shuttle from Okehampton?

Achnashellach facilities
Ticket Gates   No
Ticket Office   No
Ticket Machine   No
Public Toilet   No
Staff Help   No
ATM   No
Car Park   No
Accesible   No

Updating our facilities maps / lists for OKEHAMPTON

Here is a data sample ... can someone in the know please fill me in for Okehampton - are these any of these facilities??

Yes to ticket machine, public toilet (when station buffet is open), car park and yes, it is accessible.

Typo - it's  accessible.

Hopefully they'll build the platforms long enough for some nice 80x's that can run directly to London, or perhaps the good folks at GCHQ Bude might like to chip in a few quid to enable their staff to travel direct via CrossCountry to Cheltenham ;-)