FOLLOWING a cancellation last week, the train service from Okehampton to Exeter resumed this Sunday, however only two out of four planned trains were operating, each with extended journey times.

Due to a temporary speed restriction on part of the rail line, Great Western Railway liaised with Dartmoor Railway and Devon County Council and decided to cancel the service on June 4.

This week the service resumed with a slightly longer journey time due to a 25 miles per hour speed limitation in place on a 15 mile section of track between Yeoford Junction and Okehampton.

A spokesperson for Dartmoor Railway, who maintain the line, said that passenger’s journey time between Okehampton to Exeter would be extended by approximately 15 minutes due to the speed restriction.

They said that due to extended journey times, a temporary timetable was created and would remain in force until further notice.

To view the new timetable, visit www.dartmoor-railway-sa.org/sundayrover

Also this week, because of staff shortages, only two of the four scheduled trains could operate.

Dan Okey, Regional Development Manager for Great Western Railway, said that two of the four trains were cancelled on Sunday due to driver shortages.

He said there would be discussions with colleagues at Great Western Railaway about what happened this weekend and how to avoid it happening again.

Michael Ireland, chair of the Oke Rail CIC, said: ‘The difficulties Great Western Railway and Devon County Council have faced in operating their service is, in part, outside their control.

‘I rang the Office of Rail Regulation, and was told that the reason Great Western Railway could not operate over part of the track at speeds up to 55 mph, but was restricted to a maximum of 25 mph was because a late application had been made for a safety certificate by the lease holder. It is expected that a new certificate will be issued within the next 28 days.’