THE re-instatement of the Okehampton-Tavistock-Plymouth railway line came under the spotlight at a meeting in Tavistock last Friday. At the Tavistock Chamber of Commerce breakfast meeting, guest speakers Richard Searight, chairman and founder of the Peninsula Rail Group, and West Devon and Torridge MP Geoffrey Cox both stressed that following the destruction of the rail line at Dawlish in this winter's storms, the time was now ripe to exploit­ the political momentum to find a solution to the region's transport problems. Civil servants are now drawing up a report for Patrick McLoughlin, the Secretary of State for Transport, to consider the region's rail options, including a 'northern route' via Exeter-Okehampton-Tavistock-Plymouth and/or a 'southern route' of three alternatives for the existing South Devon line from Plymouth via Dawlish to Exeter. Richard Searight said that if the northern route was re-instated it would transform the economy in Devon and Cornwall through the business and tourism benefits. He said: 'If we had a two track rail link it will not just be for main line services but for the use of heritage and local trains. 'The overall costs of the most expensive options of restoring the line between Exeter-Okehampton-Plymouth would cost less than ten per cent of the contingency plan of £1.5- billion for HS2. [Hgh Speed 2, the planed high speed railway between London and the North] 'The most expensive option to reinstate the northern route would be £500-million to bring the whole of the South West back into a modern railway network. 'It would also mean 100,000 people in West Devon and North Cornwall would be enfranchised back into being able to use the railway.' Mr Searight said it would also have 'massive green implications' for the environment as it would ease road congestion —particularly in rush hours for Exeter and Plymouth. Mr Cox said there was a good case for the northern route and that he would make the case to Patrick McLoughlin for a comprehensive, properly funded transport system for the far South West. He said: 'This is a window of opportunity as the destruction of the line at Dawlish has hastened the need for a strategic rail and road plan.' Mr Cox said it was highly unusual to attract the attention of both the Secretary of State and the Prime Minister and the swift repairs to the Dawlish seafront rail line 'was a good indicator of the sign of political priority on this issue'. 'It is time in the South West to get together to focus our attention and encourage Westminster to make the best solution. 'George Osborne is not going to issue a blank cheque. He is not going to just say "yes", but he is willing to contemplate serious investment. 'Patrick McLoughlin understands we are determined to seize this stick. 'When it comes to the northern route versus the other alternatives, I'm not going to disguise this northern line could cause some problems, but we have to advocate very strongly the advantages of the route.' A main line route through Okehampton and Tavistock to Plymouth would, claimed Mr Cox, not just be a benefit for Okehampton but also to the whole of Devon, particularly West Devon and Torridge. Such a line, he said, 'could be an engine for growth in the region and see its energy, talent and potential unlocked'. Mr Cox said he would be making a 'very strong case' to Parliament and working with Central Devon MP Mel Stride and North Cornwall MP Dan Rogerson to achieve this. He said this was not a party issue and supporters should concentrate on the economic benefits it would bring. Mr Cox believed that the choice of the Plymouth and Torbay political lobby was for the southern route, but added that by-passing the vulnerable rail track by the sea at Dawlish would mean a vastly expensive and time-consuming tunnelling option through the Devon hillside. However, Mr Cox foresaw other problems to convince Whitehall, if the northern route was a chosen option — such as the extra time it would take on the Tavistock-Plymouth line by the 'diversion' to Bere Alston. Dr Michael Ireland, chair of Okehampton Town Council's working party Destination Okehampton, which is trying to resurrect rail services to the town, said it was not just a question of a choice between either a northern or southern route in Mid and South Devon. He said: 'I don't think the northern route is a threat to the southern one, it is better to say it is complementary.' Newly elected West Devon mayor Cllr Christine Marsh told the Times she was supporting the Exeter-Okehampton-Tavistock-Plymouth line being re-instated: 'It is of exponential importance to the whole region, not just for those along the railway line but for the whole economy. It will open up Devon. 'The Okehampton to Exeter line is already there, it just needs to be used. What we want is Devon County Council to help push our case.'