New Station for Okehampton

[DelW]

So train calls at Okehampton Interchange, then Okehampton? I can see that causing some confusion: It's not at all common for 'Interchange' to be used as a station name suffix - so not the kind of thing you'd expect. But on the other hand it wouldn't be at all surprising for someone to refer to a station as an 'interchange' if they believe connections are available there. Put those two together and you have potential for people to think that 'Okehampton Interchange' actually means 'Okehampton' or vice versa.

If they are going to call the new station Okehampton Interchange, then they really ought to rename the existing station to Okehampton Town or something similar to reduce the risk of confusion.

I believe that the plan is for the buses which reach the existing station via not very suitable residential roads to be rerouted to the new station instead. So passengers wanting to get to the town centre by bus to avoid the longish walk down the hill will need to use Interchange instead. There will indeed be some scope for confusion.

 

[uglymonkey]

If what you say is true, they will eventually cut the line back to the interchange station and let the old one rot again, or leave it to a visitors centre. Very few people will want to walk up and back to the "old" Station, without the possibility of a bus. Although taxis, if it is still open would make a killing.

 

[Cowley]

If what you say is true, they will eventually cut the line back to the interchange station and let the old one rot again, or leave it to a visitors centre. Very few people will want to walk up and back to the "old" Station, without the possibility of a bus. Although taxis, if it is still open would make a killing.

Except for the fact that the original station is a good starting point for doing the Granite Way and which generates a certain level of traffic. Plus it’s a convenient station for the people living on the upper side of the town where there’s quite a bit of housing.

 

[brad465]

I'm guessing there are no upgrade plans to the line to speed up the journey in order to offset the extra time this stop will need. The turnaround at Okehampton is already relatively tight, if the additional call adds 1-2 minutes each way that will hamper resilience on this long single track line further.

 

[DynamicSpirit]

If what you say is true, they will eventually cut the line back to the interchange station and let the old one rot again, or leave it to a visitors centre. Very few people will want to walk up and back to the "old" Station, without the possibility of a bus. Although taxis, if it is still open would make a killing.

Really? Considering the geographical area, I'd have expected Okehampton to be fairly popular with hikers, who would presumably have no issue walking up/down the hill. Add to that people like me who wouldn't want to pay an extra bus fare and take the risk of missed connections, and I'd expect enough people to want to continue to use the existing station. Besides, looking at Google maps, the distance to the town centre appears to be about 1km, which doesn't seem that long to me. It's basically what I walk to my local station every time I want the train.

 

[InkyScrolls]

Really? Considering the geographical area, I'd have expected Okehampton to be fairly popular with hikers, who would presumably have no issue walking up/down the hill. Add to that people like me who wouldn't want to pay an extra bus fare and take the risk of missed connections, and I'd expect enough people to want to continue to use the existing station. Besides, looking at Google maps, the distance to the town centre appears to be about 1km, which doesn't seem that long to me. It's basically what I walk to my local station every time I want the train.

It's really not a big deal, I've walked it and unless you're particularly infirm it's fine.

 

[DelW]

It's really not a big deal, I've walked it and unless you're particularly infirm it's fine.

It does depend on fitness levels, there are quite a few people who wouldn't count as particularly infirm, but who would prefer to avoid a 1km all uphill walk. Especially if they have a bus pass .

 

[Brush 4]

Plans of the new station.....

Okehampton Interchange

Okehampton Interchange will be a new purpose-built station as an exciting next step for the Dartmoor Line.

dartmoorline.com

I read somewhere about 2 weeks ago that a half hourly service is planned after Parkinterwaychange opens. I can't find anything in a search so perhaps just conjecture. If true though it will be impossible without line improvements. Reinstating Coleford Junction to provide an instant 4 miles of double track to Crediton would seem to be the easiest way. Rumour or factual?

 

[Ashley Hill]

Plans of the new station.....

Okehampton Interchange

Okehampton Interchange will be a new purpose-built station as an exciting next step for the Dartmoor Line.

dartmoorline.com

I read somewhere about 2 weeks ago that a half hourly service is planned after Parkinterwaychange opens. I can't find anything in a search so perhaps just conjecture. If true though it will be impossible without line improvements. Reinstating Coleford Junction to provide an instant 4 miles of double track to Crediton would seem to be the easiest way. Rumour or factual?

Redoubling Cowley to Coleford would probably be necessary to also allow for the Barnstaple services too. Half hourly to Okehampton seems a bit implausible though.

 

[Gloster]

I am not sure what the line speed Crediton-Okehampton is, but in 1967 it took twenty-nine minutes with four stops; the first down was non-stop and took twenty-four. Based on that I would think that, unless the line speed has been reduced noticeably, a half-hourly service would be possible with one stop at the interchange (sorry, Yeoford, you are out of luck), but it would be tight.

 

[30907]

I am not sure what the line speed Crediton-Okehampton is, but in 1967 it took twenty-nine minutes with four stops; the first down was non-stop and took twenty-four. Based on that I would think that, unless the line speed has been reduced noticeably, a half-hourly service would be possible with one stop at the interchange (sorry, Yeoford, you are out of luck), but it would be tight.

I think you've miscalculated there. Non-stop times Coleford (pass) to Okehampton (stop) were 21min down and 16min up in 1960, so even with that section redoubled, and allowing for better hill-climbing with a DMU, you would struggle to do the round trip in 40min without adding Interchange.

 

[AlbertBeale]

I believe that the plan is for the buses which reach the existing station via not very suitable residential roads to be rerouted to the new station instead. So passengers wanting to get to the town centre by bus to avoid the longish walk down the hill will need to use Interchange instead. There will indeed be some scope for confusion.

Presumably having good bus connections to the new station won't stop there still being bus connections to the existing station??

 

[30907]

Presumably having good bus connections to the new station won't stop there still being bus connections to the existing station??

I can't see the Bude-Okehampton-Exeter service bothering with the Town station, and that's the most frequent. Maybe some enterprising minibus operator might persuade DCC to subsidise a town service?

 

[RPI]

I'm guessing there are no upgrade plans to the line to speed up the journey in order to offset the extra time this stop will need. The turnaround at Okehampton is already relatively tight, if the additional call adds 1-2 minutes each way that will hamper resilience on this long single track line further.

It's already built into the timetable, I'd disagree with the tight turnarounds, we generally get about 10 minutes and almost always arrive in early. It's very rare that I don't get time to pop into the Bulleid buffet to get a coffee and bit of cake!

 

[Xavi]

Reinstating Coleford Junction to provide an instant 4 miles of double track to Crediton would seem to be the easiest way. Rumour or factual?

This is very much in NR pipeline but all dependent on future funding. No enhancement funding is committed apart from projects in delivery.

Key aspirations are reliability, small journey time improvements, and the ability to operate additional peak time Barnstaple trains with the reinstatement of a second platform there.

 

[Brush 4]

Good to know. Newquay is getting its second platform back. Perhaps the budget will have money for Oke/Barn and Tavistock.

I've just seen a squadron of pigs flying past......

 

[Ashley Hill]

It looks like the earthworks for Okehampton Interchange have started. Here’s a photo showing where the bank has been dug out and levelled.

 

[BrianW]

It looks like the earthworks for Okehampton Interchange have started. Here’s a photo showing where the bank has been dug out and levelled.
View attachment 171098

I spy lots of green fields ready for housing, walkable to the station for regular commuter trains to Exeter.

 

[Amlag]

I spy lots of green fields ready for housing, walkable to the station for regular commuter trains to Exeter.

Luckily those green and productive fields in the distance are not part of Okehampton‘s urban sprawl eastwards.

 

[BrianW]

Luckily those green and productive fields in the distance are not part of Okehampton‘s urban sprawl eastwards.

Yet? 1.5 million house have to go somewhere; and the new station provides good accessibility.

 

[jamieh27]

Yet? 1.5 million house have to go somewhere; and the new station provides good accessibility.

And also local buses that stop here.

 

[Ashley Hill]

A photo taken today showing the continuing earthworks being undertaken in connection with the new station. The housing in the area has radically increased too. Not the best photo as taken from a moving train coupled with dull weather.

 

[Brush 4]

How did you manage to get in the rear cab?

 

[trainmania100]

How did you manage to get in the rear cab?

Probably a conductor. Having checked tickets, it's then not uncommon for them to sit down before picking up passengers from the next stop

When is the station planned to open?

Fingers crossed the station has generous lighting, it would be a better station to get shots of the late night UTU, from the footbridge to the car park.

 

[Ashley Hill]

How did you manage to get in the rear cab?

All quite legit.

 

[yorksrob]

Or the more traditional railway nomenclature 'Okehampton East'. The existing station would be 'South' - calling it 'Central' would be stretching a bit.

One could be tempted to call it "General" but that might be a tad too Great Western for comfort !

I've walked from the current station at Okehampton to the town centre and it's a bit of a stretch but not vast.

 

[Snow1964]

Devon County Council has published an article on work towards new Oakhampton Interchange station

Work has begun to build Okehampton Interchange, a new railway station on the edge of the town.

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

Our partners in the project – West Devon Borough Council, GWR and Network Rail – gathered with us to mark the occasion with a turf cutting ceremony on the site of the new station at Okehampton Business Park.

Just two minutes from the A30, the station will connect more people in the region with jobs, education, healthcare and other opportunities – growing the local economy and helping the environment.

Okehampton Interchange will complement the existing Okehampton station and will serve the growing east side of the town. It will also reduce traffic and carbon emissions through the town centre and on Station Road.

The new station, which is being delivered by Network Rail and its contractor, Octavius, will have a single platform with step-free access via a footbridge, lift and ramps. A car park will offer 200 spaces, including EV charging points and disabled bays.

To encourage more people to travel sustainably, the station will include improved walking and cycling links, sheltered cycle parking and bus stops. Several local bus services will be integrated, improving travel choices and connectivity between Okehampton, Bude, Holsworthy, Tavistock and Exeter.

Okehampton Interchange will provide an hourly service towards Crediton, Exeter and the current Okehampton station.

It will build on the success of Okehampton, which has exceeded all expectations since reopening in 2021. More than 250,000 passengers travelled on the Dartmoor Line in the 12 months after the railway was restored.

Work begins to build Okehampton Interchange - News

Work has begun to build Okehampton Interchange, a new railway station on the edge of the town.

www.devon.gov.uk

 

[Sir Felix Pole]

The line is being slewed at the site of Interchange to make space for the platform the week after next - the line is completely closed. There are also trackworks at Crediton so no Barnstaple trains either. There is still nothing in the local media about the possible reopening of Meldon Quarry and restarting stone trains.

 

[trainmania100]

The line is being slewed at the site of Interchange to make space for the platform the week after next - the line is completely closed. There are also trackworks at Crediton so no Barnstaple trains either. There is still nothing in the local media about the possible reopening of Meldon Quarry and restarting stone trains.

Signs up to the quarry labelled Meldon Aggregates, I assume it's a new company registered

 

[Ashley Hill]

Taken yesterday this photo shows that the foundations for the platform are now being built.