Okehampton

[whole diary]

[ellendune]

What a ridiculous situation.

What might seem ridiculous in isolation might be the most sensible solution when looked at in the round

Would you expect anything else from GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)?

If you were to say "Would you expect anything else from DfT^» (Department for Transport - about)/NR^» (Network Rail - home page)/GWR" then I could go along with that. Remember the problems at the moment are not just down to GWR.

[Adelante_CCT]

In general, yes all the above are to blame, but who's decision is it for the Okehampton service? Are GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) being forced to run it, or is it there own decision?

[bradshaw]

They have financial support from Devon County Council, who started running them in 1997.

[grahame]

They have financial support from Devon County Council, who started running them in 1997.

I wonder what happens between Devon County Council and Great Western Railway when a supported service is cancelled, and how that compares to what happens between the Department for Transport and Great Western Railway when a service in the franchise / management contract is cancelled. 

[ellendune]

In general, yes all the above are to blame, but who's decision is it for the Okehampton service? Are GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) being forced to run it, or is it there own decision?

They are being paid to run it. Also DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) have made statements asking GWR to look into providing more services.

However the point I was making is that a shortage of drivers and stock generally is not just down to GWR but for reasons explained elsewhere the actions or non actions of NR^» (Network Rail - home page) and DfT have also contributed. The extent to which this affects Exeter crew I do not know. 

[plymothian]

The make up of the diagram using 3 drivers instead of 2 or 1 as in previous years is entirely down to GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway).

[devonexpress]

Its going to get a whole lot worse very soon 

[REVUpminster]

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.

[RichardB]

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.

I'm sure (but don't know for certain) that it will be the whole line to Meldon.

[REVUpminster]

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^▸ (Great Western Railway) have feared the latent demand and an hourly service could not cope. 158s might have to go in favour of the 165/166.









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[RichardB]

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^▸ (Great Western Railway) have feared the latent demand and an hourly service could not cope. 158s might have to go in favour of the 165/166.

I agree with you about Crediton having a lot of potential and I know GWR have it firmly in mind.   A lot of houses either built or being built within walking distance of the station.  We'll have to see how things go when we've been able to put Covid largely behind us (through vaccination etc) and what travel patterns emerge when there are no (or minimal) restrictions on travel.   

[TonyK]

My daughter lives in Crediton, her husband having grown up there, so I am familiar with the layout. The station is on the edge of town, and a bit of a schlep from the majority of houses, schools, and places of work. However, quite a few houses were built practically outside the station a few years ago, between it and the Tesco supermarket. There's a fair number of new houses under construction very close by, which will give it a decent catchment. There is a bus from the further reaches of the town to the station, the number 5, but as that takes only 26 minutes to get to Exeter bus station, it wouldn't really be worth changing to train for Exeter Central. The train certainly seems popular in Crediton, though, and a half-hourly service will make it more so, I am sure.

[Timmer]

I have always felt GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) 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.

_{Removed stray markup - RS}

[Clan Line]

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

Yes please, but 4/5 cars this time !

[TonyK]

I have read in another place that work on the line to Okehampton has stepped up markedly in the past few days, and will henceforth be full-on. The work so far has been to allow free rein to engineering trains. 14,000 new sleepers are on order, along with enough new rail for the whole line to Coleford Junction.