A MAJOR £250,000 investment at Dartmoor Railway should spark a big boost in visitor numbers ? and improved facilities ? at the popular tourist attraction. A new state of the art railway workshop at Meldon Station was officially opened last Friday (February 10). The £100,000 investment will provide secure workshops for the maintenance and housing of engines and rolling stock. The large building will provide cover for staff and volunteers enabling work to be carried out all year round. As well as creating two new jobs, this will enable a more effective use of stock. The workshop was officially opened by West Devon and Torridge MP Geoffrey Cox. Mr Cox said he was ?absolutely thrilled to see what progress the railway is making? ? he believed the enterprise reflected the ?sort of vibrancy? that could be achieved in West Devon. Mr Cox said eventually he would like to see the railway running daily trains from Okehampton to Exeter. ?I would like to see this as the most prosperous, thriving community railway in Britain,? he added. The new workshop is already being used to carry out repairs and maintenance, but over the next 12 months further work will be carried out to complete phase two of the workshop project. And an application for a further £150,000 has been made to Devon Renaissance ? railway bosses are anxiously awaiting ratification of the funds from the South West Regional Development Agency. The project would create work space for local craft makers, a craft shop and an exhibition area at Okehampton Station. It it hoped the craft shop and exhibition space would attract an increase of around 20 percent in additional visitor numbers a year. Renovation work on the downside building on platform two could start soon. Dartmoor Railway say using local architects, building contractors and suppliers, it will be renovated sympathetically so the finished result is as close as possible to the original design. Stuart Farmer, general manager of Dartmoor Railway said: ?Since the railway was brought back to life in 1997, it has developed into a valuable community asset. ?Securing these major investments underlines our pledge to make a success of Dartmoor Railway. ?We are 100 percent committed to the social and economic regeneration of West Devon, the continued development of quality tourism and leisure services in the area, and to making sustainable and accessible transport solutions a reality.? Derek Webber, chair of Okehampton Hamlets Parish Council, which includes Meldon within its boundaries, backed the developments at the station said the growth of the railway had the council?s ?continued support?. Dartmoor Railway became part of the ECT Group, a leading social enterprise, in December 2004. The company operates the community railway on a 15 mile line linking Okehampton and Meldon Quarry to Exeter and the main rail network. With a turnover in excess of £40 million, ECT Group has provided community transport services for more than 25 years.
