PLANS to re-open the railway line from Bere Alston to Tavistock took a step forward this week with the news that the track-bed of the old line will be transferred to Devon County Council later this year.

The announcement was made at the Community Rail Festival in Plymouth at the weekend and follows the county council's commitment earlier this year to enter into a joint company with Kilbride Properties to deliver the project.

The £18.5-million plan would re-instate the 5.5-mile track from Bere Alston Station to a new station at Tavistock along the line of the railway which closed in 1968. A regular train service would then be operated to and from Plymouth.

The track is being purchased from BRB Property, which is responsible for the management and disposal of any remaining British Rail land and buildings, but there are still parts of the route which are in private ownership.

County council leader Brian Greenslade said: 'I am pleased to announce this major step forward with the track-bed of the old line due to be transferred to the county council later this year, and we hope that negotiations with other landowners will continue positively.

'I welcome the strong interest from Kilbride in providing this important rail link. If it comes to fruition it will demonstrate what local authorities and property developers can achieve in providing sustainable transport.'

Kilbride's proposals to bring back the railway and build an additional 500 homes at Monksmead on top of the 250 already earmarked in the local plan, were presented to residents of Tavistock and the Bere Peninsula over the summer. They have been included by West Devon Borough Council in its preferred Local Development Framework option which is currently out for consultation.

People are being urged to go along to consultation days at Tavistock Town Hall on September 30 from noon to 7.30pm and Tavistock Parish Rooms on October 11 from 10am to 4pm and put forward their views.

The plans have met a mixed reaction so far. Tavistock Town Council is against the venture, believing 750 houses to be too high a price to pay for a railway station on the 'wrong side of town' taking people to the 'wrong side of Plymouth'.

However, there has also been support for the proposal which is why it has been included in the local development framework. Kilbride says the homes must come with the railway to make it a viable proposition.

The process of applying for planning permission is expected to be started next year following the decision on development in Tavistock. If approved, the earliest the railway line could be completed is 2011.

Kilbride Properties managing director Peter Frost was delighted the county council was moving forward with the purchase of the line: 'We are working hard to get the joint venture company agreed and have been very pleased with the way things have progressed so far.'

Mr Frost said it was pretty clear now that 750 homes would be coming to Tavistock and hopefully the debate would move on to how that would be delivered with the railway.

'We are optimistic about our plans and given the choice of 750 homes with the railway or 750 homes without the railway we think it is a very strong argument,' he said.

The final consultation on the preferred option for Tavistock closes on October 31 after which the borough council will take on board all the comments before going out to consultation with the complete core strategy for development in March next year.

Various events took place on the Tamar Valley Line last weekend as part of the National Community Rail Festival. There was an open day at the Tamar Belle Heritage Centre in Bere Ferrers, guided walks, jazz on the train and a vintage bus link between Gunnislake Station and Morwellham Quay.

Bere Ferrers station was also re-signed in the green and white colours of the Southern Railway and British Railways Southern Region.