DARTMOOR Railway hopes to reach a breakthrough soon in its attempts to increase the number of trains running between Okehampton and Exeter after five years of trying to extend the Sunday Rover summer service.

The rail firm is seeking a Rail Passenger Partnership grant to run an all-year-round service on a Saturday. Local campaigners hope this will lead to a full seven-day service which will cater for people travelling to work as well as shoppers.

But before a bid is submitted, Dartmoor Railway needs to secure rolling stock and a train operator to run the service, although Wessex trains, which operates the Sunday service, has already expressed an interest.

Managing director of Dartmoor Railway John Hummel said the future of the railway was dependent on an extension of services. Currently, a steam train runs along the picturesque route from Okehampton to Meldon Quarry and Sunday trains run during the summer.

?Our aim at the moment is to get a full weekend service to Exeter and we are working very hard to make it happen,? said Mr Hummel.

?We have been trying for the past five years, but it is not just a case of coming up with a couple of coaches and a locomotive.

?Until we have everything in place, and that includes a train operator, we cannot submit the bid.?

Mr Hummel said Wessex Trains were among the operators Dartmoor Railway was talking to to try and fulfill its aim.

Okehampton Town Council is also seeking to form a partnership with other bodies to fund a feasibility study into the possibility of running a week-day commuter service to Exeter.

The efforts to restore full passenger services from Okehampton Station, which were withdrawn in 1972, were re-laid to Conservative Shadow Secretary for Environment and the Regions Eric Pickles when he visited the station on Friday.

One of the main concerns from such authorities as Devon County Council is that the level of use would not justify the significant costs and emphasis is being put on improving the bus links.

Mr Pickles, a former shadow secretary for transport and MP for Brentwood and Ongar, said trains were still the safest mode of transport. With a park and ride system operating and support from the surrounding villages he could not see why a commuter service from Okehampton to Exeter would not be viable.

?Okehampton is a very good example of where a heritage railway is trying to be converted into a commercial one,? he said.

?It is a very common phenomenon where operators of a heritage railway are making them more of a living thing by getting them involved in commuter traffic.

?People will use railways if they are a reliable and useful service, whether it is for tourism purposes or travelling to work.?

Mr Pickles said he would be talking to Shadow Secretary of Transport Tim Collins about what was trying to be achieved at Okehampton.

Okehampton mayor and Conservative County Cllr Christine Marsh said by inviting people like Mr Pickles to the town, it was raising the profile of the station and what was needed in the area.

She said: ?He is now fully informed of the background of the railway and what is happening now and the more people who are aware of Okehampton Station and Dartmoor Railway the better.

?Devon County Council is supporting an extended weekend service to Exeter, but we must push for a full seven-day service because that is the best use of the line and it is what people want.?

The rail firm has received feedback from people living in other areas of Devon and Cornwall who have indicated they would use trains from Okehampton to Exeter to link up with trains to London.

The roads into Exeter were becoming increasingly congested and the Government was committed to improving public transport, said Cllr Marsh, who has highlighted the number of new houses planned for Okehampton and the predicted increase in population.

A feasibility study could cost up to £15,000, but that was what had to be done before anyone would take any expansion plans seriously, she added.

?We are not asking for the world, but two trains a day ? an early morning and late afternoon train to cater for commuters,? she said.