MAY I congratulate the town council of Okehampton in trying to seek funding for a feasibility study into a commuter rail link between Okehampton and Exeter which I think is very astute thinking towards the transportation needs of the local community.

I note the negative approach from Devon County Council to this idea which tends to sum up their attitude to both alternative transport to that by road and their inability to conserve the character of their county to promote both business and the tourist industry.

It only has to look at the local census of the number of people moving into this area from the South/South East area (myself and my family included) and look at the type of jobs and transportation they need.

I travel on the train most weeks from Exeter to London to do business and so do a great number of other people from the area.

A regular service during the week, even before and after peak times, would, I think, be used by many business people seeking access to London who would appreciate the advantage of being able to park adequately at Okehampton Station as a feeder zone for the trains to Exeter.

The suggestion by the county council of a better bus route along the A30 shows a lack of foresight towards the overall transportation policies of this country. When the roads are getting fuller ? why put more buses on?

What is no doubt needed is a better use of the rail infrastructure which we still have, only by a wing and a prayer.

It is a unique opportunity that Okehampton (with its rapidly extending population) still has a rail link to Exeter, why not make best use of it? Local people should support this campaign.

Peter T Dalton

Westcroft Farm

Halwill

IT was a pleasure to read in your paper the article by Alison Stephenson telling us that Okehampton Town Council is trying to get a commuter rail link with Exeter.

Congratulations are in order for the mayor for her support. It is a matter of regret that support does not come from county.

The deputy county environment director Ian Harrison, says correctly that they support a Sunday Rover rail service to Exeter. This will not, however, operate until the summer of 2003.

Mr Harrison?s priority is to improve the level of service to Barnstaple. I cannot see that is is logical to prefer a line which has trains over one which has none.

He comments on the bus service, the only way of getting to Exeter until we get the trains, which he says is not well patronised. The buses carry 50 people and would hardly be full all the time, but it is by no means unknown for a bus to arrive in Exeter with only a few unoccupied seats.

If First Bus decided to run a direct service to Exeter, no doubt passengers would be very pleased.

There are at present a few non-stop services but only on Sundays. The journey time is about 40

minutes, roughly the time of a car journey. It is true that the normal service takes longer, mostly 55 minutes with some scheduled for 45 minutes.

We are told that the upgrading of the Waterloo line is a main priority for the county council and if they can achieve this, rail-users will be delighted.

Meanwhile, those of us who look forward to seeing trains on our railway line will be eagerly watching your pages.

Geoffrey Gill

East Cleave

Sourton