Okehampton Interchange railway station explained

Okehampton Interchange
Symbol Location:gb
Symbol:rail
Borough:Okehampton, West Devon, Devon
Country:England
Coordinates:50.7407°N -3.9793°W
Platforms:1
Manager:Great Western Railway
Years1:January 2023
Events1:Funding Approved

Okehampton Interchange (formerly known as Okehampton Parkway) is a proposed railway station in Okehampton on the Dartmoor Line. The station would be part of the Devon Metro and has been described as a priority station.[1] The station is to be sited off Exeter Road, by the Business Park and close to the junction with the A30, in the Stockley Hamlet area of Okehampton. It would also serve 900 new homes to be built nearby. [2] [3]

Following the Government's announcement of the reopening of rail lines closed in the 1960s and 1970s the line through the site has been proposed for a new intermediate station between Okehampton and Crediton. Devon County Council has purchased a site for a new station.[4]

History

Devon County Council revealed in January 2018 that it was looking at options for a new Okehampton Parkway station from which regular services to Exeter could operate.[5] By April 2018 there were two preferred options for this new station:

Exeter-bound trains could use the through platform on the north side, and the heritage Dartmoor Railway would use the bay platform;[6] however the Dartmoor Railway ceased operations in 2020.

The railway between and Exeter reopened on 20 November 2021 as the Dartmoor Line.

Plans and funding were announced for a "West Devon Transport Hub" east of Okehampton in November 2023. The station was planned to have one platform, a lift, and parking for 200 cars.[7] The station name was announced in May 2024 to be Okehampton Interchange.[8] Funding was approved by the Government in June 2024 as part of the Levelling Up Project and the station is expected to be opened in 2025.[9]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Devon Metro - fulfilling the potential of rail . . 2017-06-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303214602/http://www.devon.gov.uk/devon_metro_briefing.pdf . 2016-03-03 . dead .
  2. Web site: OkeRAIL C.I.C. Summary . OkeRail. December 2016. 14 September 2017.
  3. Web site: Okehampton Parkway railway station is going to be built. Daniel Clark. 20 January 2023. 22 May 2023. Devon Live.
  4. Web site: Campaign for Okehampton rail connection heats up with 2018 special services. Okehampton Times. 7 December 2017.
  5. Web site: New Okehampton railway station and daily trains to Exeter 'vital'. Daniel. Clark. January 27, 2018. DevonLive.
  6. Web site: Two preferred options identified for new Okehampton railway station. Tavistock Times Gazette. 26 April 2018.
  7. Web site: Dartmoor Line . 24 November 2023.
  8. News: I bet you didn't know the name of the new Okehampton Station . live.
  9. Web site: Okehampton Interchange . Dartmoor Line . Okehampton Interchange . 2024-06-08 . The Dartmoor Line . en-GB.