DARTMOOR Railway will be presenting a petition with more than 1,800 signatures — demonstrating the strong support in the area for an Exeter to Okehampton commuter service — to local authorities.
Since the launch of this major project five weeks ago at Okehampton Show, 1,850 people have signed the petition.
Railway bosses want to safeguard a site for an Okehampton East Parkway Station, and establish a new station at North Tawton to increase the viability of the
service.
Support has also been voiced from Okehampton Town Councillors and Okehampton Area Market and Coastal Town Initiative.
A recent VIP trip along the line to explain the project attracted members from West Devon Borough Council, Devon County Council and Launceston Town Council.
While an Okehampton to Exeter rail service is included in the local authorities' policies and plans for tourist purposes, Dartmoor Railway say it is clear from the response of the local population the eventual aim of a commuter service must be added to the strategy.
Dartmoor Railway's community liaison manager John Love said the next step for the campaign was to offer the petition to West Devon Borough Council and Devon County Council as 'proof of the area's need and our resolve'.
He added: 'This together with an offer to further invited VIPs to join us on another information trip in six weeks, we hope will take us closer to our goal.'
The petition is set to be presented to West Devon Borough Council on October 7.