Trains between Okehampton, Barnstaple, and Exeter are running again after Network Rail successfully completed engineering work to protect and enhance the railway in Devon.
On the edge of Okehampton, the first major stage of work took place to build the new Okehampton Interchange station. Three hundred metres of the single-line track was moved 90cm north to allow a new platform to be built alongside it. The previous track layout didn’t allow for a platform to be built that meets regulations for new stations.
The railway reopened on Saturday 15 March after seven days of round-the-clock work. The track was cut and lifted away and ballast (track stone) was excavated before adjustments to the track bed were made. New track and 20 concrete sleepers were then installed in the new alignment and 1,000 tonnes of ballast laid and compacted.
Two new chambers were installed under the track for drainage and 300 tonnes of stone laid to allow water to flow away from the railway.
Work now continues to build the platform and a 200-space car park. The next major stage of work takes place in summer when a footbridge and lift shaft will be lifted into place. When the station opens in 2026, the bridge will provide access from the car park to the platform.
Okehampton Interchange will be the newest station on the Dartmoor Line, connecting West Devon and North Cornwall with Exeter and beyond. It is funded by Government, Devon County Council and West Devon Borough Council and delivered by Network Rail and GWR.
The Dartmoor Line to Okehampton reopened in 2021, restoring a regular, year-round service for the first time in almost 50 years 775,000 journeys have since been made, far beyond expectations.
Work also took place near Crediton on the Tarka Line from Exeter to Barnstaple, while the railway was temporarily closed. Two bridges were repaired to ensure the railway remains safe for decades to come.
Network Rail lead portfolio manager Alex Phillips said: “We’ve been hard at work to reposition the track so it’s ready for the new station. Trains can now operate as normal while we continue our work.
“We’re sorry for the disruption but the public can look forward to the benefits of the new station long into the future.”
GWR business development portfolio director Tom Pierpoint commented: “New stations such as Okehampton Interchange are vital in bringing the railway closer to people as we become mindful of the need to live and travel more sustainably – something we can see so visibly with the success of the reopening of Okehampton in November 2021.
“Working with our partners at the Devon County Council; West Devon Borough Council and Network Rail, we are really pleased to be able to start work on this new station, continuing to invest in our railway and bringing train travel to the wider community of north Devon.
“We are excited for the benefits this station will bring to the local economy, to residents, businesses and to leisure travellers alike.”
Image credit: Network Rail
