JUST a year after reopening to regular services, the number of passengers on the Dartmoor line has passed the 250,000 mark. The actual number is 258,479.
On November 28, newly appointed Rail Minister Huw Merriman visited the line to officially open the renovated station building which features The Bulleid Buffet café, Dartmoor National Park information centre, shop, toilets, heritage-style waiting room and museum.
The line, which runs between Okehampton and Exeter, had previously seen seasonal service and was upgraded with 11 miles of new track in just nine months – with the bonus of being delivered £10m under budget. It is the first line to fully reopen under the Government’s £500m Restoring Your Railway programme.
Initially starting with a two-hourly service, from May 2022, GWR increased the frequency to hourly and now more than 500 passengers travel out from Okehampton daily, with a further 300 travelling into the town from across the rail network.
To encourage further use of the line, Devon County Council and local bus operators have worked with GWR to provide improved bus links to Tavistock, seven days a week direct from Okehampton station. Buses also run direct to Launceston and Bude.
£120m spent on rail upgrades over Christmas period
OVER the Christmas and New Year period, more than £120million was due to be spent by Network Rail on upgrade
