Okehampton speculation: can it support two stations? should the original be renamed?

[Western Lord]

Moderator note: Spit from

New Station for Okehampton

“ Definitely opening on the 1st August. Everything is in place for it. No idea why nobody has updated the Dartmoor line website! “Fred’s in Lanzarote this week”.

www.railforums.co.uk

It is questionable whether a town the size of Okehampton can support two stations. The new station is better located for the road network, has more parking and is closer to much of Okehampton's residential development, which is mostly to the east of the town. If the bus services materialise it is difficult to see what the inconveniently located old station has going for it.

 

[Devonian]

It is questionable whether a town the size of Okehampton can support two stations. The new station is better located for the road network, has more parking and is closer to much of Okehampton's residential development, which is mostly to the east of the town. If the bus services materialise it is difficult to see what the inconveniently located old station has going for it.

The old station is better for 'active travel'. It has has much better connections on foot and by bicycle to the Granite Way and on to the moor itself and, for those not troubled by the gradient, the old station is still about 2/3 mile closer to the town centre, away from the main road.

 

[RPI]

It is questionable whether a town the size of Okehampton can support two stations. The new station is better located for the road network, has more parking and is closer to much of Okehampton's residential development, which is mostly to the east of the town. If the bus services materialise it is difficult to see what the inconveniently located old station has going for it.

The original station is closer to the town centre, admittedly still a trek! Oh, and the cafe is good!

 

[stevieinselby]

It is questionable whether a town the size of Okehampton can support two stations. The new station is better located for the road network, has more parking and is closer to much of Okehampton's residential development, which is mostly to the east of the town. If the bus services materialise it is difficult to see what the inconveniently located old station has going for it.

What is the cost of keeping a second station open? The trains will still be running, the tracks will be maintained, even if the number of passengers using Okehampton Town does drop then how much would be saved by closing it?

 

[Brush 4]

Okehampton Town as it should now be called, has the Youth Hostel next door in the old goods shed. Cycle hire next to that, direct access to Dartmoor via a footbridge over the A30 and is close to the residents in that part of town. Plenty still going for it, although I can see winter usage dropping, as most of the above is summer activity.

Official opening has now happened....

 

[Western Lord]

Okehampton Town as it should now be called, has the Youth Hostel next door in the old goods shed. Cycle hire next to that, direct access to Dartmoor via a footbridge over the A30 and is close to the residents in that part of town. Plenty still going for it, although I can see winter usage dropping, as most of the above is summer activity.

Official opening has now happened....

I think calling it "Okehampton Town" would run up against the Trade Descriptions Act (if it still exists). How about "Okehampton three quaters of a mile uphill from the town", and due south when you are trying to go east. Mind you, there are stations called "Town" which are further away (and uphill) from the centre. Harlow, I'm looking at you.

 

[REVUpminster]

I wouldn't put any money on an Okehampton-Tavistock service. Tavistock's future lies with Plymouth. Okehampton was opened as a single line and would cost a fortune to reinstate double track. The best we can hope from Network Rail is to reinstate Penstone to Crediton as double track and not two single lines at present.

It was government money that rebuilt the line as GWR were not interested. It was Devon County Council that paid for the Sunday train. The only investment GWR have made in the southwest was rebuilding Exeter depot. They abandoned Exeter platform 2. No interest in more passing loops. All the improvements in the southwest have been paid by someone else; usually a government quango, or the EU. No interest in more passing loops.

I am still waiting on lifts at Torquay, second entrance at Newton Abbot, Edginswell Station. All had planning permission long expired because no one will pay for it. Torbay council have plans for Paignton station but no money. Maybe the enlarged Torbay will have access to more funds,