Surely the case is now much stronger for Bere Alston - Tavistock - Okehampton!

[simonw]

If I have it right, the case [EDIT- back in the '60s] for keeping open the line as it currently is (Plymouth- Gunnislake via Bere Alston) is primarily that the roads thereabouts were not conducive as alternatives to the rail journey- whether too long, too narrow, hilly etc I don't know perhaps there are notes of meetings, deliberations and decisions of the Transport Users Consultative Committee that might shed light? I would say that little has changed in the years since the Beeching 'reprieve', except the roads are busier. Perhaps a service pattern Plymouth- Gunnislake via Tavistock might be made to work? Maybe not.

The line was retained because the roads weren't suitable for bus service. AFAIK this is still the case.

 

[daodao]

The line was retained because the roads weren't suitable for bus service. AFAIK this is still the case.

The line was retained because there aren't any roads crossing the Rivers Tamar and Tavy downstream (other than at Saltash) to provide useful bus services, but the retained railway line does bridge these rivers to provide a connection to Plymouth. The opening of the road bridge at Saltash enabled a Plymouth to Callington bus service, so the Callington branch could be curtailed to Gunnislake. There is an hourly bus service from Tavistock to Bere Alston, with occasional extensions to Bere Ferrers, but it doesn't cross the Rivers Tamar and Tavy. This bus service, and the frequent direct bus service from Tavistock direct to Plymouth via another route, weaken the case for re-opening the Bere Alston-Tavistock line.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The line was retained because there aren't any roads crossing the Rivers Tamar and Tavy downstream (other than at Saltash) to provide useful bus services, but the retained railway line does bridge these rivers to provide a connection to Plymouth. The opening of the road bridge at Saltash enabled a Plymouth to Callington bus service, so the Callington branch could be curtailed to Gunnislake. There is an hourly bus service from Tavistock to Bere Alston, with occasional extensions to Bere Ferrers, but it doesn't cross the Rivers Tamar and Tavy.

Somewhat to a different area, but on the same subject, even though at Conwy, there were both road and rail crossings of the river, they decided still to build a road tunnel under the river when the A55 road improvement scheme was taking place.

 

[trainmania100]

First train into Meldon Quarry for a long time!
Some sort of ballast working I'm guessing

Train 6C40 Westbury Down T.C. to Westbury Down T.C. Mon 15/01/2024 | Rail Record

Live Train Times for Train 6C40 Westbury Down T.C. to Westbury Down T.C. departing on Mon 15/01/2024 | Rail Record

live.rail-record.co.uk

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Was there any damage to the station at Okehampton during the recent bad weather?

 

[Class172]

Was there any damage to the station at Okehampton during the recent bad weather?

I believe I read in another thread that the recent winds associated with storm Henk managed to rip the roof off the pedestrian footbridge.

 

[WibbleWobble]

Was there any damage to the station at Okehampton during the recent bad weather?

The footbridge canopy was torn off:

All trains out of Okehampton have been cancelled this afternoon after a damaged footbridge roof has fallen on to the lines. High winds caused by Storm Henk have ripped the corrugated roof off the footbridge.

 

[yorksrob]

A minor problem that will undoubtedly be rectified fairly quickly.

 

[BrianW]

The footbridge canopy was torn off:

Storm Henk: Okehampton Station footbridge temporarily closed - News

The footbridge connecting the two platforms at Okehampton Station will remain closed for the time being after it was damaged by Storm Henk earlier this week.

www.devon.gov.uk

 

[yorksrob]

Service trains only use the up platform anyway, so shouldn't be an issue for train services.

 

[RPI]

Service trains only use the up platform anyway, so shouldn't be an issue for train services.

And you can walk down the station approach road and under the bridge to access the old down platform area too, bit of a way around but possible.

 

[yorksrob]

And you can walk down the station approach road and under the bridge to access the old down platform area too, bit of a way around but possible.

Indeed. The heritage side will still be able to operate as well.

 

[uglymonkey]

Probably depends how much money the council has to repair it ( Unless it's insured)?

 

[Snow1964]

Seems £13.5m has been awarded by the Government to a station near Okehampton, not on the currently closed section, but is likely to make Exeter line busier (but possibly act as railhead so discourage restoring missing section)

A new station on the Dartmoor Line​

The new railway station will be built on the Dartmoor Line that was the first line to be reinstated under the Department for Transport’s ‘Restoring your Railway’ fund. The new station will include:

• step-free access to platforms
• car parking with electric vehicle charging points
• high quality cycle facilities
• a new bus stop

The new station is located close to the A30 junction and will be in addition to Okehampton’s existing station on the West side of the town.

Connecting communities​

The new hub will level up the Okehampton region, connecting communities in the town. It will also connect the wider West Devon and North Cornwall areas with Exeter.

Find out more about the West Devon Transport Hub
Find out more about Levelling Up
Published 8 March 2024

West Devon transport hub allocated £13.5 million (Levelling Up Fund 2)

£13.5 million from the Levelling Up Fund has been provisionally allocated to West Devon for a new railway station on the eastern edge of Okehampton.

www.gov.uk

 

[yorksrob]

Seems £13.5m has been awarded by the Government to a station near Okehampton, not on the currently closed section, but is likely to make Exeter line busier (but possibly act as railhead so discourage restoring missing section)

West Devon transport hub allocated £13.5 million (Levelling Up Fund 2)

£13.5 million from the Levelling Up Fund has been provisionally allocated to West Devon for a new railway station on the eastern edge of Okehampton.

www.gov.uk

By any logic, a successful new station should increase the case for the full line reinstatement (afterall, if more people want to travel in one direction, it makes sense that more will want to travel in the other), but those against reinstatement will twist any development to their agenda

 

[Bald Rick]

By any logic, a successful new station should increase the case for the full line reinstatement (afterall, if more people want to travel in one direction, it makes sense that more will want to travel in the other), but those against reinstatement will twist any development to their agenda

Alternatively, those who want reinstatement (in defiance of logic) willtwist any development to their agenda.

 

[yorksrob]

Alternatively, those who want reinstatement (in defiance of logic) willtwist any development to their agenda.

We will of course adapt circumstances to our argument.

It just so happens that its perfectly logical to want a decent, robust railway network in the South West of England.

Those who are against such a situation defy all logic.

 

[uglymonkey]

"Those who are against such a situation defy all logic." - And probably live a million miles away and only ever visit ( in the car) on rare holidays.

 

[stuu]

We will of course adapt circumstances to our argument.

It just so happens that its perfectly logical to want a decent, robust railway network in the South West of England.

Those who are against such a situation defy all logic.

Nothing wrong with that. The sensible place to put it is where the people live. Which isn't between Okehampton and Tavistock

 

[yorksrob]

Nothing wrong with that. The sensible place to put it is where the people live. Which isn't between Okehampton and Tavistock

Lots of people live at Tavistock, lots live at Okehampton, lots live at Crediton.

Railways are supposed to run between places where people live.

 

[Wolfie]

Lots of people live at Tavistock, lots live at Okehampton, lots live at Crediton.

Railways are supposed to run between places.

Having looked at the populations of those places your idea of what constitutes 'lots of people' and mine are very different.

 

[yorksrob]

Having looked at the populations of those places your idea of what constitutes 'lots of people' and mine are very different.

Well, you say that, but Okehampton and Crediton seem to generate enough passengers !

 

[stuu]

Lots of people live at Tavistock, lots live at Okehampton, lots live at Crediton.

Railways are supposed to run between places where people live.

Absolutely: There are 360,000 people in South Devon, not including Plymouth and Exeter. That's the place for a railway

 

[I'm here now]

Absolutely: There are 360,000 people in South Devon, not including Plymouth and Exeter. That's the place for a railway

That’s the place of Dawlish, probably about to be washed away… and the money with it

 

[AndrewE]

Absolutely: There are 360,000 people in South Devon, not including Plymouth and Exeter. That's the place for a railway

not at all, that's "the place" that shouldn't be without a railway. Presumably on that basis you think that the S&C should be closed?

When there is a string of smallish towns with economic hubs not far away (but the roads and rail links are not good enough for them to thrive) then a rail link is a good investment. Ever heard of levelling up? Remember the Robin Hood line? Have you heard about the Ivanhoe line?

 

[uglymonkey]

All roads ( and railway lines) lead to London, the rest - particularly England, ( no devolved assembly) can go hang.

 

[zwk500]

By any logic, a successful new station should increase the case for the full line reinstatement (afterall, if more people want to travel in one direction, it makes sense that more will want to travel in the other), but those against reinstatement will twist any development to their agenda

This is spurious logic. People want to travel to places where they have something to do There. There is no reason to suppose thar travel towards one destination will indicate increased demand to another.

Railways are supposed to run between places where people live.

Railways are supposed to run from where people live to where people want to go. That's rather a different thing.

Absolutely: There are 360,000 people in South Devon, not including Plymouth and Exeter. That's the place for a railway

Density matters in this, because the
train cannot stop at every lamppost to collect individuals and still remain a viable option for longer journeys.

When there is a string of smallish towns with economic hubs not far away (but the roads and rail links are not good enough for them to thrive) then a rail link is a good investment. Ever heard of levelling up? Remember the Robin Hood line? Have you heard about the Ivanhoe line?

Ivanhoe's not open though, if you're talking about the Coalville/Ashby section.

 

[Gathursty]

We really do need someone with a clipboard to go to Okehampton and ask residents how often they go to Tavistock and Plymouth and if it would increase if there was a direct rail link and the same question in Tavistock about Okehampton, Crediton and Exeter.

 

[yorksrob]

This is spurious logic. People want to travel to places where they have something to do There. There is no reason to suppose thar travel towards one destination will indicate increased demand to another.

Railways are supposed to run from where people live to where people want to go. That's rather a different thing.

If you look at anywhere with a comprehensive railway network, you'll find that people travel in all directions by train. Kent, Sussex, Yorkshire. The 1960's obsession with turning everything into a dead end branch line really doesn't reflect the way people actually travel.

 

[stuu]

not at all, that's "the place" that shouldn't be without a railway. Presumably on that basis you think that the S&C should be closed?

When there is a string of smallish towns with economic hubs not far away (but the roads and rail links are not good enough for them to thrive) then a rail link is a good investment. Ever heard of levelling up? Remember the Robin Hood line? Have you heard about the Ivanhoe line?

The Ivanhoe line? An existing freight railway between a major city and some substantial towns? Exactly what is the similarity between that and a line through the middle of nowhere?

Apart from neither actually existing