New Station for Okehampton

[bavvo]

Is the platform going to be north or south of the road bridge? The car park is mentioned to the south, but I can't see any details for the platform itself.

 

[Bringback309s]

Is the platform going to be north or south of the road bridge? The car park is mentioned to the south, but I can't see any details for the platform itself.

The North

 

[Ashley Hill]

Is the platform going to be north or south of the road bridge? The car park is mentioned to the south, but I can't see any details for the platform itself.

In the photo below the station is going to be where the marked location dot is in the centre of the photo. The red scribble opposite is the land allocated for the car park and is on the opposite side of the railway line on the south side.

 

[DelW]

Network Rail have put out a press release showing progress to date:

Pics: New Devon station takes shape after six months of progress

Network Rail has released new aerial photos showing the first six months of progress on Okehampton Interchange station, which is set to open in 2026.

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

Network Rail has released new aerial photos showing the first six months of progress on Okehampton Interchange station, which is set to open in 2026.

The station will be the newest addition to the Dartmoor Line, connecting West Devon, Torridge and North Cornwall with Exeter and beyond. The £15 million scheme is being funded by the Department for Transport (DfT) with contributions from Devon County Council and West Devon Borough Council.

Since work began in January, major progress has been made to create the new station on the edge of Okehampton, two minutes from the A30.

In March, 300 metres of the single-line track was moved 90cm north to allow a new platform to be built alongside it. The previous track layout didn’t allow for a platform to be built that meets regulations for new stations.

New track and 20 concrete sleepers were installed in the new alignment and 1,000 tonnes of ballast (track stone) laid and compacted. Drainage work also took place with two new chambers built under the track and 300 tonnes of stone laid to allow water to flow away from the railway.

Then in May, 25 bored piles were driven 12 metres into the ground to support the new platform, footbridge and lift.

The next major stage of work will see the footbridge and lift shaft installed in autumn. Work is also ongoing to build a 200-space car park and station platform.

 

[DynamicSpirit]

Network Rail have put out a press release showing progress to date:

Pics: New Devon station takes shape after six months of progress

Network Rail has released new aerial photos showing the first six months of progress on Okehampton Interchange station, which is set to open in 2026.

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

Nice to see the progress being made. But I couldn't help notice this bit:

In March, 300 metres of the single-line track was moved 90cm north to allow a new platform to be built alongside it. The previous track layout didn’t allow for a platform to be built that meets regulations for new stations.

Was it really impossible to anticipate that and make sure the track was laid in the correct location when they were first converting the line for regular passenger use? Would have made the whole project rather simpler/cheaper I would imagine.

 

[The exile]

Was it really impossible to anticipate that and make sure the track was laid in the correct location when they were first converting the line for regular passenger use? Would have made the whole project rather simpler/cheaper I would imagine.

See all the comments about “gold-plating” and project creep elsewhere relating to other things. Quite apart from the fact that the original reopening was in some ways a pilot exercise in “jfdi”, just imagine the reaction if £x had been spent slewing the track for a station that never got built because the passenger numbers didn’t stack up.

 

[jamieh27]

Nice to see the progress being made. But I couldn't help notice this bit:



Was it really impossible to anticipate that and make sure the track was laid in the correct location when they were first converting the line for regular passenger use? Would have made the whole project rather simpler/cheaper I would imagine.

Good progress with Okehampton Interchange.

 

[Snow1964]

Haven't yet seen an opening date listed anywhere (except a vague in 2026)

However it has now been announced that Oakhampton and Barnstaple line will be closed for 9 days from Saturday 21st March to Sunday 29th March 2026.

Presumably no point in opening a station just ahead of a line closure which shuts it again even if temporarily.

Planned Engineering Work and Disruption | Great Western Railway

Find out about planned engineering works, travel disruption and changes to Great Western Railway's published train timetables here.

www.gwr.com

Further rail improvement work is planned in the next few months affecting the following routes:
....
Exeter St Davids to Okehampton/Barnstaple – Saturday 21 to Sunday 29 March

 

[Phillipimo]

October 2025 update.

Okehampton Interchange taking shape with lift shaft and footbridge installed - The Dartmoor Line

Okehampton Interchange, the newest station in the region, is a big step closer to welcoming passengers after a major stage of construction was completed. The lift shaft, footbridge span and staircase have all been lifted into place, with the station now beginning to take shape. Okehampton...

dartmoorline.com

Okehampton Interchange, the newest station in the region, is a big step closer to welcoming passengers after a major stage of construction was completed.

The lift shaft, footbridge span and staircase have all been lifted into place, with the station now beginning to take shape.

The new fully accessible station, being built by Network Rail and its contractor Octavius, is set to open in summer 2026.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

Thanks to @Sir Felix Pole providing an update in the New Station Calendar thread. Station expected to open in September 2026.

Full story in The Tavistock Times Gazette here.

 

[MarkyT]

See all the comments about “gold-plating” and project creep elsewhere relating to other things. Quite apart from the fact that the original reopening was in some ways a pilot exercise in “jfdi”, just imagine the reaction if £x had been spent slewing the track for a station that never got built because the passenger numbers didn’t stack up.

I expect track engineers didn't know exactly where the new platform would be. There likely wasn't a detailed design for it yet. I expect there may have been station options that didn't move the track, but shifting it may still have been the best choice if alternatives incurred greater expense moving drainage, constructing larger retaining structures, etc.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

The full text (minus photograph) of the article previously linked to :

Okehampton Interchange Station set to open this September

By Amy Hetherington | Reporter |

Thursday 22nd January 2026 11:54 am

amy.hetherington@okehampton-today.co.uk

The Okehampton Interchange Station, which is currently under construction, is due to open to the public this September after a trial period beginning in May.

From May, rail services will conduct trials to test how the system functions and ensure the safety of the building and infrastructure. This is the final phase before the station is officially opened. The new station will connect the east side of Okehampton and be an additional stop on the Dartmoor Line between Crediton and Okehampton’s existing station situated on the west side of the town.

The Government, Devon County Council, West Devon Borough Council, and Network Rail have all invested in the project, which has cost around £15 million.

 

[Ashley Hill]

Two photos from a train showing current progress with Okehampton Interchange.

Towards Okehampton. Towards Exeter.

 

[Cowley]

Two photos from a train showing current progress with Okehampton Interchange.
View attachment 199918 View attachment 199919
Towards Okehampton. Towards Exeter.

Wow. That’s coming together nicely

 

[bavvo]

I managed to get a couple of pictures of the platform from the industrial estate side, looking towards Exeter. One thing I'd like to know is how the station will be reached on foot, will a new path be laid from the main road, or are they expecting people to walk through the estate?

 

[Sir Felix Pole]

Okehampton Int.

Latest info. + video of Okehampton Interchange - looks pretty much complete, but no opening date announced yet. It will have to be co-ordinated with the move of all the bus services currently serving the existing station.

Partners made a visit to Okehampton Interchange this week to see the latest progress in advance of the station’s opening this summer.

The interchange will provide easy access to those who are walking, cycling, or using local bus services with a train service to link West Devon and the surrounding areas to Exeter and beyond.

More details on the opening date to follow soon.

 

[lachlan]

I managed to get a couple of pictures of the platform from the industrial estate side, looking towards Exeter. One thing I'd like to know is how the station will be reached on foot, will a new path be laid from the main road, or are they expecting people to walk through the estate?
View attachment 202509
View attachment 202510

The diagram on the website suggests a more direct path from Summering Close (through the housing estate) to Kellands Lane then across the road to the station. On the other side the path is through the existing industrial estate. A couple new pedestrian crossings going in.

Okehampton Int.

Latest info. + video of Okehampton Interchange - looks pretty much complete, but no opening date announced yet. It will have to be co-ordinated with the move of all the bus services currently serving the existing station.

I don't know how good the train-bus connections are today, hopefully care will be taken to maintain or improve the timings at the new station. Given the low frequency of bus and rail services, it won't be a given that connections will line up.

It should be an improvement for most bus users in Okehampton though - while the small numbers of people near the existing station will lose their service, it will be much more convenient for those in the sprawling east of the town.

 

[TransportHub]

Okehampton Int.

My brain definitely didn't read that as Okehampton International......

 

[Ashley Hill]

I`m told a unit is running to Okehampton Interchange one day next week to check platform hight clearances etc.

 

[Express380]

I`m told a unit is running to Okehampton Interchange one day next week to check platform hight clearances etc.

Realtime Trains | 3Z20 2309 Exeter New Yard to Okehampton | 06/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 3Z20 2309 departure from Exeter New Yard to Okehampton on 06/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 3Z21 0038 Okehampton to Exeter Tmd | 07/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 3Z21 0038 departure from Okehampton to Exeter Tmd on 07/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Sir Felix Pole]

I see that in the May 2026 National TT Interchange is listed as opening from 22nd June, but no formal announcement yet.

 

[ollyexe2808]

So any further updates on opening? Have been to Okehampton several times recently and everything looks almost ready to go....

I was wondering if they were waiting for a 175 in GWR livery to do a big press event at the station but wasn't sure if 175 had been cleared on the line yet?

 

[RPI]

So any further updates on opening? Have been to Okehampton several times recently and everything looks almost ready to go....

I was wondering if they were waiting for a 175 in GWR livery to do a big press event at the station but wasn't sure if 175 had been cleared on the line yet?

175's have made a couple of route proving runs lately, including stopping at Okehampton Interchange.

 

[Snow1964]

So any further updates on opening? Have been to Okehampton several times recently and everything looks almost ready to go....

I was wondering if they were waiting for a 175 in GWR livery to do a big press event at the station but wasn't sure if 175 had been cleared on the line yet?

August has been mentioned couple of times, but not a specific date

Officially it is during summer 2026, which of course a 3 month date range

 

[Amlag]

It’s been alleged that this eagerly awaited and completed new railway station may not now be opened until
gWR Managers are confident that it will not be subject to the daily scourge of DMU failures, including the troublesome class 175 units, traincrew shortages ( 3 Exeter/ Okehampton services each way cancelled today 19/7/26) and general operational and infrastructure shortcomings.

 

[RPI]

It’s been alleged that this eagerly awaited and completed new railway station may not now be opened until
gWR Managers are confident that it will not be subject to the daily scourge of DMU failures, including the troublesome class 175 units, traincrew shortages ( 3 Exeter/ Okehampton services each way cancelled today 19/7/26) and general operational and infrastructure shortcomings.

Alleged by who, Karen on Facebook?

 

[Brush 4]

Probably the December timetable change. After all, what's a 6 month delay when a whole new line hasn't opened after 18 months....so far. (East-West)

 

[Snow1964]

Probably the December timetable change. After all, what's a 6 month delay when a whole new line hasn't opened after 18 months....so far. (East-West)

It's different, trains run past it anyway, so no new trains, just an additional stop

 

[Brush 4]

I didn't mean the physical place, just the bureaucratic side of things. The bane of so many projects.

 

[RPI]

It's opening is very soon, trust me.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Jul 2026 ==

1st August..... You heard it here first