Just over a year after the Dartmoor Line reopened to regular passenger trains, journey numbers on the line have passed 250,000, with the arrival of an extra special visitor, Rail Minister Huw Merriman, on Monday 28 November to officially open the renovated station building at Okehampton.
The line reopened on 20 November 2021, restoring a regular, year-round service for the first time in almost 50 years following more than £40 million of Government investment.
The previously-mothballed rail line, which runs between Okehampton and Exeter, was restored in just nine months and delivered £10 million under budget, becoming the first former line to reopen under the Government’s £500 million Restoring Your Railway programme.
In the same week as it celebrated its one-year anniversary, the Dartmoor Line also saw its 250,000th journey, showing an incredible patronage on the line and more than double the demand originally forecast.
Since Great Western Railway increased services to hourly in May 2022, passenger use has continued to rise, with more than 500 journeys starting at Okehampton every day and a further 300 travelling into the town from across the rail network.
The Minister met with local dignitaries and unveiled a plaque to mark the official reopening of the station building.
Rail Minister, Huw Merriman MP, said: “A big congratulations to everyone who has been involved in bringing this wonderful line back into regular use over the past year.
“With over 250,000 journeys made, restoring this vital route has undone 50 years of damage – we’ve reconnected a community and created new opportunities for jobs, tourism, education and leisure.
“Our Restoring Your Railway programme is making a real contribution to levelling up the country and breathing new life into previously cut-off areas”
On his visit, Mr Merriman opened the fully refurbished station building, featuring The Bulleid Buffet café, Dartmoor National Park information centre, shop, toilets, heritage-style waiting room and museum.
GWR managing director, Mark Hopwood, said: “It is hard to believe that it is already a year since we and our partners reopened the Dartmoor Line, ahead of time and under budget.
“This anniversary, with more than 250,000 journeys now made, is testament to the hard work of so many who campaigned for the line’s reinstatement and those who worked day and night to deliver the project £10 million under budget.
“The continued demand shows just how important good rail connections are for the community, and the economies, they serve.”
Reinstatement of the Dartmoor Line was made possible by Network Rail’s team of engineers who worked tirelessly to deliver a huge programme of work including laying 11 miles of new track and installing 24,000 concrete sleepers and 29,000 tonnes of ballast in a record-breaking 20-day period.
Image credit: GWR
