CAMPAIGNERS working to restore a regular rail service from Okehampton to Exeter are calling on the Government to ‘set a date’ for the service to start – after a major government report failed to do just that.

Members of OkeRail are concerned that the Department for Transport’s Investing in the South West report, released last week, is light on detail regarding Okehampton despite pledging millions of pounds for Westcountry rail upgrades.

Among major investment unveiled by the Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling is up to £80-million to be spent on ‘a rigorous set of defences’ at Dawlish to allow trains to continue along the southern route. A major overhaul of Plymouth railway station is also planned.

The However, mention of Okehampton is confined to one sentence, with the minister saying: ‘We also want to bring back regular Exeter to Okehampton train services to further boost connectivity in the area and we recognise local aspirations for an Okehampton to Plymouth rail link.’

Chair of the OkeRail Forum Mike Davies, speaking also as mayor of West Devon and a borough councillor for the town, said: ‘Although it is excellent news that the Department for Transport is heavily investing in the South West’s rail and road infrastructure, we still need to see definite proposals for the Okehampton line.

‘With sea levels rising I am not convinced that focusing on one main coastal rail route into the region is the answer.’

Read the full story in today’s edition of the Okehampton Times.