Okehampton, Dartmoor, Sunday Rover service - ongoing discussion, merged topic

[whole diary]

[Pb_devon]

Barry Doe in his "Rover Roundup" in RAIL issue 800 - in shops tomorrow (11th May) - says the Rover is valid on GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) services to Gunnislake, St Budeaux Ferry Road, Okehampton, Barnstaple, Tiverton Parkway, Exmouth and Paignton.  Also includes Stagecoach bus services throughout Devon as well as to Bude, Saltash and Lyme Regis.  Were all those destinations available before? 

Yes they were, though don't attempt to bus Lyme Regis to Bude and return!

[JayMac]

The main selling point of the Dartmoor Sunday Rover was always the ability to do a circular journey and actually see some of Dartmoor. Devon County Council always promoted the circular journey. I can't see how that is possible now as there doesn't appear to be any Sunday bus services from Okehampton to Gunnislake. Nothing to/from Tavistock either.

The ability to see anything but the fringes of Dartmoor from Okehampton or Gunnislake stations has been lost, making the Rover somewhat misnamed and largely redundant.

I mean, Lyme Regis? Bude? Saltash? Hardly Dartmoor are they? Princetown, Yelverton, Horrabridge, Tavistock. They are Dartmoor. All were possible to visit in previous years using the Dartmoor Sunday Rover.

Way to go Devon County Council and Dartmoor National Park Authority. Making the car the only viable option on one of the two days a week when most people might like to see and experience Dartmoor. That'll do wonders for the environment, habitat and sustainability of the National Park. 

[Bob_Blakey]

Way to go Devon County Council and Dartmoor National Park Authority. Making the car the only viable option on one of the two days a week when most people might like to see and experience Dartmoor. That'll do wonders for the environment, habitat and sustainability of the National Park. 

Of course where appropriate people could get on a bike and sample the delights of The Granite Way and beyond.

[trainbuff]

I was on the first train from Exeter to Okehampton and back today. It was a Class 153 single unit. Bearing in mind that there are really no connections into the first train there were 29 people on it going to Okehampton.

On the return there were well over 100 and it was full and standing.

Some dozen or so people from Okehampton decided not to stand all the way to Exeter and took their cars instead! Too many people for the unit!

I understand that the train was to be strengthened later in the day, though I do not know if this happened. If everyone on the train paid ^5 to Exeter, and we know some were going as far as Maidstone, then that would be nearly ^650 for the trip up to Okehampton and back. Additionally the Conductor could not make his way through the train.

I am not sure how busy the following 3 trains were but this does appear to show there is at least some form of market for a service. The train was so full that someone at Crediton could not get on with their bicycle.

2 vinyls have been applied to the class 153 in GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) livery with the OkeRAIL and Devon County Council logo's on them. There were also photo's taken for the press at Exeter St Davids and Okehampton and I am sure these will be seen from tomorrow onwards

A good day weather wise and this helped boost the numbers but what will happen when people are on holiday here?

[plymothian]

An additional 153 was added making it a 153+153 formation.

[JayMac]

The strange, rarely seen yellow ball in the sky probably skewed the passenger numbers way beyond expectation today.

[Red Squirrel]

I wish them well.

The only snag with Okehampton station is its location.  It is a 15 minute to the town (and it is uphill coming back to the station!).  Hopefully funding could be found for some sort of shuttle bus.

Hmm... According to Google maps, that's pretty similar to the time it'll take to walk into Portishead (12 mins from Quays Ave to Cabstand). Just, as the young folk would have it, sayin'.

[trainbuff]

The strange, rarely seen yellow ball in the sky probably skewed the passenger numbers way beyond expectation today.

I wondered what that was as it was rarely seen last year!

[LiskeardRich]

GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) are offering the Dartmoor rover online, however DCC^» (Devon County Council - website) confirmed this week it is not valid on any buses this year.
I understand following First withdrawing DCC wouldn't or couldn't afford to subsidise a new operator.

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) are offering the Dartmoor rover online, however DCC^» (Devon County Council - website) confirmed this week it is not valid on any buses this year.
I understand following First withdrawing DCC wouldn't or couldn't afford to subsidise a new operator.

i just want to correct this post as i believe you are talking specifically about the former okehampton to tavistock bus link, the sunday rover is still valid and available from stagecoach buses.... and is still a very usefull ticket to those not living near a rail hub for example sidmouth which is a saving on the ^7.70 for the return (or explorer) on the bus plus the ^5 rail return even before you factor in the unlimited use on gwr within devon

[AMLAG]

Okehampton station, a survivor and the finest ex Southern MAIN line station regrettably, by a quirk of the 1990's Rail privatization process, no longer on the National Rail network.

A visit on Sunday morning 31 July found that it was probably one of the busiest railway stations west of Bristol with a very well patronised station buffet offering a wide range of refreshments, including cooked meals delivered to customers at 'proper' tables.
At least 5 paid & volunteer staff were hard at work and the main platform was buzzing with many passengers from near and far.

At 0950 the first train of the Summer Sundays until 11 Sept. service from Exeter, very fortunately now formed of TWO (instead of one) class 153 single car units as per First Rail's gWr intentions for the school Summer holidays; which are dependant on fleet availability, ie no unit failures, at Exeter depot on the day.
The considerable number of passengers, mostly going to Exeter to shop or to the seaside and others with luggage at the start of long rail journeys and also several with bikes, then eagerly boarded the 0955 return train to Exeter.
This managed to leave on time through efficient supervision by the station's duty manager and smart working by the traincrew.

In the other platform the former Meldon Quarry Shunter prepared to soldier on with its
one coach (instead of the usual two) on the 6 scheduled trips to Meldon and back that run each Saturday and Sunday until 25 Sept.
Hopefully the recent opening of a large Wetherspoons in the middle of Okehampton
will encourage customers to take the train from Exeter.

Given the will, particularly by some of those in distant places, this scene could hopefully & easily be repeated on a daily basis.
Following the leading article in last week's Okehampton Times with regards to progress with the DCC^» (Devon County Council - website) initiated scheme for restoration of a regular rail service to Exeter from Okehampton's current station and from the planned Parkway station on the eastern edge of the town, it is becoming increasingly clear what the people, elected representatives and businesses of Okehampton, West Devon and North Cornwall want.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Many thanks for posting that detailed update here, AMLAG. 

[TonyK]

I have ridden the route only once, and very enjoyable it was. I would hope to see a full service resume - there is demand for it.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Tavistock Times Gazette:

Second Carriage for Sunday Rover as demand for Okehampton rail service continues to grow

The argument for the return of a full time rail service to Okehampton is growing ever stronger, with a second carriage increasing capacity for the town’s Sunday Rover service.

When the service started up for the summer back in May, residents were urged to make use of the train to prove the desire and need for a full time rail service for Okehampton. Currently, the train has a single carriage with 76 seats.

The service is proving hugely popular, with a passenger survey report showing that on almost every Sunday since the service began running, the day’s first train is often running close to or above full capacity. On the vast majority of days, over 150 passengers have been using the rover service both to and from Exeter, with several days breaking the 200 passenger mark.

At Monday’s full town council meeting, councillors revealed that First Great Western had agreed ‘in principle’ to run a second carriage on the service whenever possible to boost capacity to 150 seats.

Cllr Kevin Ball, Devon county councillor for Okehampton Rural, said: ‘Everyone is working together and we’ve put some friendly pressure on Great Western, who have been very supportive. In principle they have agreed to a two-car unit for the Sunday Rover. If they are running short of rolling stock, the normal timetable comes first. But it is an achievement all round and thanks to First Great Western for their help on this.’

Cllr Michael Ireland, a long time advocate for full rail services in Okehampton, said: ‘Now that the rover is offering 150 seats to and from the town, it is very important that we support it as a community. The news of a second carriage should be welcomed. This is not just about Okehampton. What you can see from the report is that while a good proportion of people using the service are from within three miles of Okehampton, a sizeable proportion are from West Devon, including many nearby parishes. Hatherleigh has been one of the main supporters of the service. We have had users from North Cornwall, West Devon and Torridge. Getting a service to Okehampton is very important as it can be a hub for the wider community.’

With the service proving so popular among Hatherleigh residents, a new bus service from Hatherleigh to Okehampton connecting to the Sunday Rover train is being trialled on August 14. The aim of the service is to demonstrate how the wider community will benefit from the return of a full time Okehampton rail service.

County councillor for Hatherleigh and Chagford James McInnes said: ‘Travelling into Exeter from Hatherleigh can be a nightmare at busy times of the day and not everyone has access to a car. These factors increase the risk of rural isolation and prevent many local people from applying for jobs in the city. The case for a permanent rail service from Okehampton to Exeter is steadily building and hopefully the bus service will be well used and will help the cause further. More information is available in Hatherleigh Visitor Information Centre and Hatherleigh Community Centre.’

MP^▸ (Member of Parliament) for Central Devon Mel Stride said: ‘In the past decade the number of rail journeys undertaken in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) has risen by 43 percent. Across the country, when residents are given the choice between driving and catching the train, more are choosing the train. Like Cllr McInnes, I hope the trial bus service is a big success and provides further evidence that a new passenger rail service between Okehampton and Exeter would be financially viable.’

At the town council meeting on Monday night, councillors also discussed the potential terminus for any new Okehampton services.

Councillors agreed that should any rail service return to the town, the existing station should be the terminus and the proposed Okehampton East station should be a park and ride station. This was following a proposal from Dartmoor Railway that the Okehampton East station should be the terminus for the line for operational reasons and so as not to disrupt the Polar Express tourist trains at Christmas.

Cllr Tony Leech, borough councillor for Okehampton North, said: ‘It is imperative that Okehampton East is not the stopping point for any new service. In the fullness of time, if we have the railway right through Okehampton, it would be stupid to have Okehampton East as the terminus. It is vital for bringing tourists in to Okehampton and for people in the west of the town. It is a no-brainer.’

Cllr Paul Vachon said: ‘The problem is that if Okehampton East were to be the terminus, the last place people would want to be dumped is in the middle of a business park building site on the east of town. We’d need to set up a bus to bring people in to town then. To improve marketing and tourism, it is vital that the terminus would be at the current station.’

[bobm]

From the Tavistock Times Gazette

THOUSANDS of passengers used the Sunday Rover rail service connecting Okehampton to Exeter this summer, according to a survey conducted by local railway group OkeRail.

OkeRail has brought together local authorities and community groups to promote the return of a regular passenger rail service between Okehampton and Exeter, and say its findings show there is a definite demand for an extended service.

Its survey revealed that the Great Western Railway Sunday Rover service — which operated between May 15 and September 11 from Okehampton to Sampford Courtenay and Crediton and on to Exeter — attracted more than 7,500 passenger journeys, with an average of just over 200 people using the service each week.

To show their determination to bring improved rail services to West Devon, OkeRail and the Peninsula Rail Group are also putting on a one-off First direct train from Okehampton to London on March 18, 2017.
Their survey concluded that the Sunday Rover service was used by passengers from Torridge, Mid and West Devon and North and East Cornwall.

Some 11% of passengers interviewed (from a total of 928) said they would use a daily service for commuting, 34% for weekly shopping/leisure and 12% would use a daily service to connect at Exeter with the main London-Plymouth rail line.

Passengers inter-viewed showed overwhelming support for a daily Okehampton-Exeter service. Some suggested that if there was no daily service by summer then a Saturday service should be added to the Sunday Rover.
There were some complaints, however, of overcrowding which led to some passengers refusing to travel.

But overall supporters of the service were delighted with the response.

OkeRail chairman Mike Davies said: ‘This is an absolutely brilliant response. I remember the first time I caught the train from Okehampton and there were more than 100 people ready to board the train to Exeter. It was amazing. Such was the demand that Great Western had to add a second coach.’

Mr Davies believes that with the growth of Okehampton in the future access to better rail transport for passengers is essential.

‘There are places like Bude that has no rail service and if Okehampton was connected to the main line to London with a daily service it mean more people would come through Okehampton from North Cornwall and North Devon. Also those who come to take on the Ten Tors on Dartmoor each year could then come by train instead.’

The findings are even more relevant as the Government is expected in February to announce whose bids have been successful for the rail franchise for the Exeter line and any other new routes including possible resurrection of the Exeter-Okehampton-Tavistock-Plymouth line.

The Peninsula Rail Group is a group of professionals, academics and stakeholders, who are campaigning for better regional rail services. Its chairman Richard Searight told the Times: ‘The survey proves that there is terrific interest in the service and that more people use it than on the Tarka^▸ (Line from Barnstaple to Exeter) line in North Devon and that’s just on a Sunday.

‘The survey itself is so important because it will build a business case for both the Okehampton to Exeter line and the whole proposed restoration of the northern rail line (Exeter-Okehampton-Tavistock-Plymouth).

‘The first phase is the Okehampton-Exeter line and we hope to have regular services operating by the end of next year. It could even see services on Saturdays and Sundays and spread to the whole of the regular services.’

Mr Searight hopes that the figures will be the ‘litmus test’ to attracting possible rail service providers as the high number of passengers using the existing Rover line will prove to franchisees that the Okehampton and northern rail options are lucrative.

He added: ‘We want to create a buzz about the success of the results of this survey especially at this moment when the franchises are to be announced in the near future.’

Mr Searight urged as many people as possible to write to their MP^▸ (Member of Parliament), local councillor, newspaper, OkeRail and/or the Peninsula Rail Group in support of securing a permanent Okehampton-Exeter service and a northern line for Plymouth to Exeter.

MP for Central Devon Mel?Stride voiced his backing for revamped rail services for the county.

He told the Times: ‘The Government’s invitation to tender for the South Western franchise was published on June 30, with the preferred bidder set to be announced in February 2017.

‘I have been in correspondence with OkeRail regarding the potential of restoring a regular all year service between Okehampton and Exeter and have pressed the train operators bidding for the franchise to carefully consider the benefits that such a move would have locally.

‘I am also continuing to gather local support for the service — only yesterday I met Mid Devon District Council leader Clive Eginton in Crediton to ask for his support from a Mid Devon perspective, which he has pledged.
‘While I continue to follow developments closely, I am also delighted that OkeRail and the Peninsula Rail Group have organised a train from Okehampton to London next March and hope to be available to travel on it!’