Okehampton

[whole diary]

[Pb_devon]

Thanks for the link.

Mods: we already have a thread on the Okehampton line.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Fair comment: I have now merged the posts. 

[GBM]

08:38 Exeter Central to Okehampton due 09:21
Facilities on the 08:38 Exeter Central to Okehampton due 09:21.
Will be formed of 33 coaches instead of 2.
Last Updated:01/06/2025 05:48

Bonus!

[bobm]

Unless you are in coach 33 and have to walk through to coach 3 to exit the train.... 

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Landslip closes Dartmoor railway line in Devon

[Image from here is not available to guests]

Railway services in part of Devon have been cancelled after a landslip forced a train line's closure.

National Rail said the incident had been reported between Crediton and Okehampton on the Dartmoor Line at about 01:40 BST.

It said Great Western Railway train services running between Exeter St Davids and Okehampton had been suspended.

A Network Rail spokesperson said engineers had made it to the site for repair work after earlier difficulties in reaching it and disruption was expected to continue until 14:00.

National Rail said rail replacement services, external had been arranged to help passengers affected by the closure.

Passengers could also use their train tickets on Stagecoach bus routes 5A and 6A between Exeter St Davids and Okehampton.

Trains on the Tarka^▸ (Branch line from Barnstaple to Exeter) Line, between Exeter St Davids and Barnstaple, would still stop at Crediton, National Rail added.

[TaplowGreen]

.....the law of unintended consequences strikes again....https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/rallying-cry-save-devon-sixth-10278926

[RichardB]

.....the law of unintended consequences strikes again....https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/rallying-cry-save-devon-sixth-10278926

Are you saying the railway shouldn't have reopened?

[TaplowGreen]

.....the law of unintended consequences strikes again....https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/rallying-cry-save-devon-sixth-10278926

Are you saying the railway shouldn't have reopened?

I'm highlighting the impact it's had on Okehampton College,  as per the article I linked & the feature on BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) Southwest News earlier tonight.

[Mark A]

It should be built through to Plymouth asap to further broaden educational choices for Okehampton students.

With a secure bus link from North Cornwall so that people from there and from Tavistock can then look to educational opportunities in Okehampton. :-)

Mark

[REVUpminster]

When the railways were first built in Devon they depopulated the small towns and villages and the arrival of the railways as the greatest revolution since the Black Death.  (Aspects of Devon History page 50).

A modern day road example is the Kingskerwell By Pass campaigned for 50 years as the saviour of Torbay bringing jobs and prosperity into the bay.

When built it did the exact opposite and allowed residents to commute out to Exeter where the real jobs growth is. Torbay is a commuter town now, much like Exmouth, and has benefited the Paignton- Exmouth line which is thriving.

[Mark A]

Wasn't it observed too that the A55 link along the north wales coast pulled economic activity eastwards to Chester and surroundings.

Mark

[RichardB]

Here's a photo taken today at 10 15 (as the train arrived from Exeter) by Tony Hill who has given me permission to post it here.  He says this is a typical mid morning scene at the station, the car park is usually full by this time and the new Interchange station can't come soon enough (it'll open sometime next year).

[grahame]

I will admit ... I have not looked at the plan for the Okehampton Interchange in detail, but I was surprised to read in The Sun

The next major stage of work will see the footbridge and lift shaft installed

I hadn't realised that there was a footbridge and lift to be installed here for a single platform on a single track railway - or have I missed something or has the Sun got it a bit confused? 

For comparison, here is the station at Wilhelmina North in Sweden, which I believe is an addition in the last year or two. On the train we were on, around 20 people got off there, and the same 20 got back on again after walking up to the restaurant that this station serves and having a gourmet lunch.

[Mark A]

I will admit ... I have not looked at the plan for the Okehampton Interchange in detail, but I was surprised to read in The Sun

The next major stage of work will see the footbridge and lift shaft installed

I hadn't realised that there was a footbridge and lift to be installed here for a single platform on a single track railway - or have I missed something or has the Sun got it a bit confused?  *snip**

Though I've not yet seen it written anywhere, thankfully there appears to be passive provision for a second track and platform.

Mark

[REVUpminster]

[Image from here is not available to guests][/url]View of station. by Robert, on Flickr[/img]

This is Okehampton Interchange if someone can make it visible.