Hopefully the proportion of enthusiasts using the service will begin to tail off during the following weekends; a lot of traffic especially this weekend will be driven by the novelty factor of a new service.
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Reopened Okehampton line - travel experiences
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I can now confirm that it is the case, as I am sat on one of the undavertised trains.
REVUpminster
Established Member
150233/221 and 150261/232 make up the hourly service until 1951 when the last is 2156.
Right at the back of the 13:38 departure from Okehampton if anyone’s onboard and wants to say hello.
Very smooth ride as the 150s got up to speed along the straight stretch through Bow etc. Very impressive.
Very smooth ride as the 150s got up to speed along the straight stretch through Bow etc. Very impressive.
I had a trip on the line from Crediton to Okehampton and back yesterday afternoon. The train was two 150s and quite well loaded. There's not a lot to see from the train as the lineside is very treed up. A deep cutting just before Okehampton has had trees removed and netting added to reduce the risk of landslips. It was quite easy to spot the three former stations at Bow, North Tawton and Sampford Courtenay, the first and last with nameboards. The ride on the relaid section of line was good, mostly uphill going west with gradients of 1 in 77 to 100, according to the Ian Allan gradient profile book.
The small museum and bookshop run by the Dartmoor Railway Association on platform 2 were not open but there were some volunteers present. One told me that the future of the line to Meldon was unclear as it's all now owned by Network Rail. The DRA still have some rolling stock at Meldon and this will need to meet NR standards if they are to run it again. They will need a safety case and insurance and probably don't have the funds for this.
GWR has provided a ticket machine and customer information screen on platform 3. A cafe, the Bulleid Buffet, had signs saying "coming soon" but it may have been open over the weekend. There is a timetable for the 118 bus service to Tavistock and car parking which I read was to be £2 but no machines or signs were in evidence.
It will be interesting to see the level of traffic once the initial interest has worn off. The bus links should attract walkers to Dartmoor and perhaps the Youth Hostel in the old goods shed will be a source of income for both train and bus.
The small museum and bookshop run by the Dartmoor Railway Association on platform 2 were not open but there were some volunteers present. One told me that the future of the line to Meldon was unclear as it's all now owned by Network Rail. The DRA still have some rolling stock at Meldon and this will need to meet NR standards if they are to run it again. They will need a safety case and insurance and probably don't have the funds for this.
GWR has provided a ticket machine and customer information screen on platform 3. A cafe, the Bulleid Buffet, had signs saying "coming soon" but it may have been open over the weekend. There is a timetable for the 118 bus service to Tavistock and car parking which I read was to be £2 but no machines or signs were in evidence.
It will be interesting to see the level of traffic once the initial interest has worn off. The bus links should attract walkers to Dartmoor and perhaps the Youth Hostel in the old goods shed will be a source of income for both train and bus.
Requeststop
Member
I did my trip from Truro to Okehampton yesterday, connecting at Exeter St David's to the 12:34. I walked up to the front coach with a couple of minutes to spare noting the numbers of passengers already seated. My impression was that the train was moderately filled for a midday. The ride was good and it was very noticeable that we were on continuous rail. In spite of a 5 minute delay before Cowley Bridge, we made up the time. I'd say that there was about the same number of passengers waiting to board the return journey back to Exeter.
Okehampton Station looks really good. When the full facilities are open it will become very popular, I'm sure.
I walked down to the town. (just over 3000 steps according to my pedometer). Not too much there for a quick visit. To be honest, most of my life, I have only passed by Okehampton at 70 mph on the by-pass heading between Cornwall and Exeter. Due to rain, I ended up at the Plume of Feathers for a pint, before the trek back up the hill to the station and a mooch around the facilities. The returning train was really full (14:32 ex Exeter Central), There must have been at least 60 passengers leaving the front coach alone. It was an impressive crowd which gives hope for use of the line. A brief chat with the conductor/guard/train manager/inspector (or whatever we're supposed to call them these days) revealed that the morning and evening services are very full.
I enjoyed by first ride on the line in 50 plus years. Hopefully I'll be back in the UK during a summer to see the line at it's best.
Okehampton Station looks really good. When the full facilities are open it will become very popular, I'm sure.
I walked down to the town. (just over 3000 steps according to my pedometer). Not too much there for a quick visit. To be honest, most of my life, I have only passed by Okehampton at 70 mph on the by-pass heading between Cornwall and Exeter. Due to rain, I ended up at the Plume of Feathers for a pint, before the trek back up the hill to the station and a mooch around the facilities. The returning train was really full (14:32 ex Exeter Central), There must have been at least 60 passengers leaving the front coach alone. It was an impressive crowd which gives hope for use of the line. A brief chat with the conductor/guard/train manager/inspector (or whatever we're supposed to call them these days) revealed that the morning and evening services are very full.
I enjoyed by first ride on the line in 50 plus years. Hopefully I'll be back in the UK during a summer to see the line at it's best.
davetheguard
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GWR have announced that over 10,000 passengers were carried on the re-opened line in the first two weeks.
https://news.gwr.com/news/over-10-000-people-use-reopened-dartmoor-line-in-first-two-weeks
https://news.gwr.com/news/over-10-000-people-use-reopened-dartmoor-line-in-first-two-weeks
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Assuming that means "over 20,000 departures and arrivals" (in terms of the Station Usage statistics) - then Okehampton has already clocked up an increase over its 2020-1 usage figures of 3333% with about 14 weeks to go!
Bishopstone
Established Member
I made my visit today. About 25 got off at Okehampton, from the lunch time train. Returning on the 15.24 to Exeter, about 40 boarded. I thought these were solid numbers given the time of year, day of the week, and the general pandemic situation: broadly equivalent to the numbers I’ve seen at Exmouth, off-season and off-peak.
At least a third of my fellow passengers looked like enthusiasts, but it was encouraging to see the (small) car park at Okehampton well-filled, presumably with a decent commuter contingent, already.
Sad to report that Okehampton (town) wasn’t exactly bustling. It felt like the Waitrose and Co-op stores basically fulfilled all retail requirements, and everything else was struggling, badly. Like lots of towns this size, I guess.
At least a third of my fellow passengers looked like enthusiasts, but it was encouraging to see the (small) car park at Okehampton well-filled, presumably with a decent commuter contingent, already.
Sad to report that Okehampton (town) wasn’t exactly bustling. It felt like the Waitrose and Co-op stores basically fulfilled all retail requirements, and everything else was struggling, badly. Like lots of towns this size, I guess.
davetheguard
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I suspect 10,000+ means exactly that rather than 20,000; but if you're right that's even better!
Class800
Established Member
But unless most passengers were single journeys only, the number of journeys would be double the number of passengers
davetheguard
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The figure will presumably have come from ticket sales, so a single will count as one "entrance" at origin station and one "exit" at destination station; a return as one entrance & one exit at origin station and one exit & one entrance at destination station. I suspect the 10,000 figure will actually be the total entrances & exits (rather than the word "passengers" that GWR use) at Okehampton station, with a single journey counting as 1, and a return journey counting as 2.
Either way, it’s much to be welcomed!
70014IronDuke
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Thanks for this. A very encouraging report - will be interesting to see how numbers work out in 2022.
Railcar
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I took the train to Okehampton from Exeter St Davids on September 6th (a Tuesday) this year. The train was delayed in coming from Central and the station stops looked interesting for exploration.
Twenty or so people came to Okehampton by train. A dismal trudge down the hill in pouring rain was brightened by the building seen in the town with 'CAFE' painted on the wall (they must get a lot of trade from that sign).
The 'end to end' rail services in the Torbay area run from Paignton to Exmouth. Having visited Exmouth, I was not impressed. An 'end to end' route from Paignton to Okehampton would pull in more users.
Twenty or so people came to Okehampton by train. A dismal trudge down the hill in pouring rain was brightened by the building seen in the town with 'CAFE' painted on the wall (they must get a lot of trade from that sign).
The 'end to end' rail services in the Torbay area run from Paignton to Exmouth. Having visited Exmouth, I was not impressed. An 'end to end' route from Paignton to Okehampton would pull in more users.
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dk1
Veteran Member
And deprive all stations from Paignton to Exeter of the through service to Exeter Central. That would go down like a lead weight.
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Same applies to the Okehampton branch which would also lose out on direct services to one of if not the most important destination.
dk1
Veteran Member
Devon CC have aspirations of the frequency going up to every 20mins one day.
Ashley Hill
Established Member
There is not much of a view on the Okehampton line, after 40 or so years as a freight line it is pretty much solid tree lined.
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Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
I was to be honest disappointed with the scenery, but it avoided a very long journey on a regular bus so I was OK with it.
I've never done Okehampton by rail, only by road and am actually quite surprised by that, given the A30 has, if I remember right (used it in the mid-90s) pretty open views most of the way, and the countryside as a whole seemed pretty open.
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John Luxton
Established Member
Tavistock is a lovely place. Some years ago it was judged by one of the national papers to be the nicest Town in England.
It managed to see off McDonalds - the locals prefer their pasties - at least three pasty shops.
Has tremendous heritage and has been designated by UNESCO World Heritage as part of the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape.
I have been staying either in Tavistock (at the Bedford) or at its sister hotel down the road at Two Bridges at least twice a year since 1996 except for 2020 for obvious reasons.
I wouldn't keep going back if Tavistock didn't offer me something.
I have always dreamed of the reopening of the railway to Tavistock and perhaps on to Okehampton.
With the opening of Okehampton station I now have two railheads for days out by train when staying in the area. Either Tamar Valley line Gunnislake / Bere Alston or Okehampton.
It's many years since I have been to Ilfracombe - 1990s for some PS WAVERLEY sailings thus I don't know what that is like - but it suffers as do most north Devon / Cornwall resort towns of becoming overloaded during the summer peaks.
Tavistock will never appeal to the bucket and spade / 'kiss me quick' hat brigade - but it is very much the sort of town that would attract visitors who find places such as Bowness / Betws-y-Coed or Llangollen attractive places for days out or holidays.
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It is a great shame that the railway links with buses, ferries and even the early domestic services were severed. Things were shaping up for integrated transport systems with ticket inter availability. It is a great shame politics / nationalisation then privatisation got in the way.
Thanks for an enjoyable description of Tavistock. I will certainly visit when the line reopens !
John Luxton
Established Member
Certain trains on Tamar Valley line are met by a stage coach bus at Bere Alston and at there are other bus connections from Tavistock you can get quite close by train now!
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Likewise, I didn't think to look up Tavistock but it sounds like it will be worth a visit when I'm next in that area, even if I have to do a bus to/from there. It might even feature as part of a cycling tour!
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Ashley Hill
Established Member
Crediton,Okehampton and Tavistock all have a Wetherspoons too if that is your thing.
RPI
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The one in Crediton is up for sale apparently.
Ashley Hill
Established Member
It was quite a hike from the station anyway.
