A NETWORK Rail chief used the wrong speed figures for the Okehampton and Tavistock rail route at a recent meeting, the Peninsula Rail Group (PRG) has this week claimed. The PRG, a group of rail professionals, enthusiasts, academics, stakeholders and councillors, has said that at a recent meeting of the Devon and Exeter rail working party discussing 'rail resilience', Network Rail's head of route asset management was using an old timetable when he suggested that were the Okehampton and Tavistock rail route to be reinstated, it would take trains 43 minutes longer than current Plymouth to Exeter rail times. The group said Mike Gallop was using the 1965 timetable which scheduled 90 minutes for the journey instead of the 50 to 55 minutes research showed would be achievable for through trains on the restored and hopefully upgraded new Okehampton Northern route track. A founding member of the new research group PRG said: 'Early diesels and steam trains did indeed take 90 minutes to complete the Plymouth to Exeter route — as indeed they did on the Dawlish line at that time. 'The Northern route trains stopped at Bere Alston, Tavistock North, Okehampton, Crediton — hardly a through service. Additionally they travelled at an average speed of just over 40mph. 'In 1965 the line was in decline and was using what we would now consider "heritage" rolling stock. 'We must assume that if Network Rail restored the Northern route, they would not use wooden sleepers, wobbly ballast, and dodgy bridges, all of which meant that large sections of the line suffered mandatory 40mph speed restrictions. 'Current rolling stock, running on modern speed optimised track, could virtually double this average speed. 'Current Voyager trains accelerate faster than 1960s diesels and would be able to travel at speeds of approaching 100mph over almost half the route to give a projected journey time of approximately 52 minutes.' The PRG said given that the new northern and southern routes both deliver approximately the same journey times, the key argument shifts towards the facts that the northern route doubles rail capacity, is half the cost to reinstate, is quicker to implement, reduces rush hour traffic and will have a 'transformational' effect on the economics of Plymouth, Exeter, Okehampton and Tavistock. 'So the good news is that through trains on the northern route will always get to Exeter and beyond quicker than the current Dawlish line,' said the spokesman. 'Simply because modern rolling stock, running on new track, runs faster than 1960s trains on ancient poor maintained lines in 1965. 'Let's hope that all Network Rail's senior management gets on board!' A spokesman for Network Rail said: 'Network Rail and its partners remain open-minded about the possibilities of re-opening old routes or creating new ones, and we do not have a "preferred option". 'Whatever solution is eventually created will need to take into account constructability, affordability, the wider economic benefits to the region as well as journey time benefits. 'In addition, the process will also take in the views of the wider community, including businesses, landowners, the national parks administration and those living near any proposed route. 'It is with that in mind that we have recently launched a study management group, which also includes stakeholders from the Peninsula Rail Group, to provide a forum for constructive discussions for a shared vision to maintain long-term connectivity to the south west peninsula.' The PRG is inviting people to join the campaign by writing to local MPs and councillors and highlighting the issue on social media outlets. For more information on the northern and southern Dartmoor lines, visit the PRG website at http://www.prg.2day.ws">www.prg.2day.ws, contact Richard Searight on 01822 860148 or email [email protected]">[email protected]