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

[whole diary]

[smokey]

The problem with having a service to Plymouth via Oakhampton, would be that trains would have to reverse.

And with almost EVERY thing running therse days being Units thats not a problem, by the time the passengers have left or entered the train, the driver has already walked to the other end.

The only service that needs the loco to run round is the Sleeper train, and there is plenty of slack in the Night Train times.

[Conner]

The problem with having a service to Plymouth via Oakhampton, would be that trains would have to reverse.

And with almost EVERY thing running therse days being Units thats not a problem, by the time the passengers have left or entered the train, the driver has already walked to the other end.

The only service that needs the loco to run round is the Sleeper train, and there is plenty of slack in the Night Train times.

And where exactly does under normal operations the sleeper reverse.
Ans at the Paddington another 57 is put on the other end and at Penzance it backs into Long Rock.

[smokey]

The problem with having a service to Plymouth via Oakhampton, would be that trains would have to reverse.

And with almost EVERY thing running therse days being Units thats not a problem, by the time the passengers have left or entered the train, the driver has already walked to the other end.

The only service that needs the loco to run round is the Sleeper train, and there is plenty of slack in the Night Train times.

And where exactly does under normal operations the sleeper reverse.
Ans at the Paddington another 57 is put on the other end and at Penzance it backs into Long Rock.

Conner you misunderstand, it's only IF and it's a Bl**dy BIG IF, that if the Sleeper went via a rebuilt Okehampton-Bere Alston line it would require the Engine to Run Round at Plymouth and Exeter St David's.

[Conner]

The problem with having a service to Plymouth via Oakhampton, would be that trains would have to reverse.

And with almost EVERY thing running therse days being Units thats not a problem, by the time the passengers have left or entered the train, the driver has already walked to the other end.

The only service that needs the loco to run round is the Sleeper train, and there is plenty of slack in the Night Train times.

And where exactly does under normal operations the sleeper reverse.
Ans at the Paddington another 57 is put on the other end and at Penzance it backs into Long Rock.

Conner you misunderstand, it's only IF and it's a Bl**dy BIG IF, that if the Sleeper went via a rebuilt Okehampton-Bere Alston line it would require the Engine to Run Round at Plymouth and Exeter St David's.

OK.

[qwerty]

I think people would use the Okehampton line for commuting etc, the Okehampton line is actually quite fast (line speed 60mph), lets not forget people going to college in Okehampton, and with a free bus link to the town.......... it could be done if the trains were extensions of some Exmouth and Waterloo services thus keeping cost's down.

 There are also some very long sections of 40 mph.

I believe that those sections only apply to Loco's? units are near 60 all the way??

Fraid not.... For my sins I do sign Okehampton, for a start it's 40 all the way from Crediton to Mill Hill bridge just past Coleford  thats 5 miles.

Then 60 for a couple of miles, then 40 for another couple of miles around Bow, back to 60 until Corscombe then 40  all the way to Okehampton. Those are the unit speeds between Bow and corscombe it's 40 all the way for loco's

It's 17 miles from Crediton to Okehampton I reckon 10 of them (for units) are 40 mph.


I should say that this is the current set-up  **IF** the will was there you could raise those line speeds, this was the SW main line after all.

Anyone know what the linespeeds were in steam days?

[vacman]

I think people would use the Okehampton line for commuting etc, the Okehampton line is actually quite fast (line speed 60mph), lets not forget people going to college in Okehampton, and with a free bus link to the town.......... it could be done if the trains were extensions of some Exmouth and Waterloo services thus keeping cost's down.

 There are also some very long sections of 40 mph.

I believe that those sections only apply to Loco's? units are near 60 all the way??

Fraid not.... For my sins I do sign Okehampton, for a start it's 40 all the way from Crediton to Mill Hill bridge just past Coleford  thats 5 miles.

Then 60 for a couple of miles, then 40 for another couple of miles around Bow, back to 60 until Corscombe then 40  all the way to Okehampton. Those are the unit speeds between Bow and corscombe it's 40 all the way for loco's

It's 17 miles from Crediton to Okehampton I reckon 10 of them (for units) are 40 mph.


I should say that this is the current set-up  **IF** the will was there you could raise those line speeds, this was the SW main line after all.

Anyone know what the linespeeds were in steam days?

I was half right then- that there are different speeds for DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit)'s and locos I believe the line was quite fast in kettle days???

[Lee]

Interesting Transport Briefing article link.
http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2008/04/dartmoor_rail_line_shuts_as_tr.html#more

According to the Friends of Dartmoor Railway two prospective purchasers have been going through a due diligence process.

Also of interest :

Although the Dartmoor Railway is not part of the National Rail network and provides a heritage service to its three stations, it has provided an insight into alternative funding and operational approaches to running lines serving local communities. The Dartmoor line has its own team of engineers and proposals to restore through services to Plymouth via Tavistock have suggested that the Dartmoor Railway, rather than Network Rail, should be responsible for infrastructure north of St Budeaux in order to keep costs down. Transport Scotland is reportedly considering a similar arrangement to minimise costs for the Waverley line reopening project in the Scottish Borders.

Earlier this month E&HCT- a joint venture between ECT and another social enterprise, HCT - won a four-year contract from the Olympic Delivery Authority to provide drivers, buses, vehicle maintenance, route planning and timetabling to support the increasing number of workers employed on the 2012 Games sites in east London.

[Andy]

Assurance that the Summer Sunday service to Okehampton will run this year is contained in the article below.

http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=141529&command=displayContent&sourceNode=141513&contentPK=20607433&moduleName=InternalSearch&formname=sidebarsearch

[devon_metro]

Excellent!!

Pacer to Okehampton on the list 

[Graz]

I must try and travel down there this year. Presumably you have to buy a return from Exeter St Davids as part of the Sunday Rover?

[vacman]

I must try and travel down there this year. Presumably you have to buy a return from Exeter St Davids as part of the Sunday Rover?

The Dartmoor rover is the only ticket valid on the Oke services

[gaf71]

I must try and travel down there this year. Presumably you have to buy a return from Exeter St Davids as part of the Sunday Rover?

The Dartmoor rover is the only ticket valid on the Oke services

When I've worked these trains in previous years, Dartmoor Railway have always provided a ticket inspector, and FGW^▸ (First Great Western) crew just work doors(and drive). Not sure what tickets are sold, but if a passenger joins at Crediton on the return journey to Exeter, I have to sell him a ticket, and also, if a passenger is travelling Exeter to Crediton, the same applies. So i would presume that because this section of line(as far as coleford junction) is maintained by Network Rail, Dartmoor Railway could not take any revenue for that part of journey.

p.s. It's great news that these services are still running this year. 

[oooooo]

For the first time point to point tickets will be available this year from *most* Devon stations to Sampford Coutenay and Okehampton in additional to the Sunday Rover.

[devon_metro]

Good, Dartmoor Ranger was priced expensivly!

[oooooo]

Other rover tickets, Freedom of South West, All Line etc will be valid to OKE (and SMC) for the first time this year along with ATOC^» (Association of Train Operating Companies See - here) staff passes. Think a CDR^▸ (Off Peak Day Return [ticket type] (formerly 'Cheap Day')) from EXD^» (Exeter St Davids - next trains) to OKE is ^4.50 rising to ^7.50 from PGN/TOT. The CDRs to OKE/SMC are only available from stations on the Barnstaple/Exmouth/Paignton lines and Totnes.