IT's not quite full steam ahead — but the fires have been stoked at Dartmoor Railway and the summer Sunday service has been saved. Devon County Council has stepped in to retain the popular summer Sunday trains from Exeter to Okehampton. The news follows the closure of the railway last month by its owners, Ealing Community Transport. The station shop and buffet will remain closed, as will Meldon Station, but the county council will ensure the continuation of the train service which has operated each summer since 1997 as part of the Dartmoor Sunday Rover network of buses and trains. First Great Western is being contracted to provide five return trips each Sunday this summer between Exeter, Crediton and Okehampton. Dartmoor Railway will provide the safety cover for the operation and will manage Okehampton station each Sunday, as in previous years. Margaret Rogers, Devon County Council executive member for environment, said: 'This saves this popular service for this summer which is great news for everyone who enjoys using the Sunday trains. 'It is already a very popular service and hopefully more people will be tempted to come along and show their support. 'Unfortunately, the buffet and model shop at Okehampton Station and the buffet and visitor centre at Meldon are closed at present and the Dartmoor Pony train is not running this season. 'Other than that it will be business as usual and The Friends of Dartmoor Railway are hoping to arrange some catering. 'In spite of reduced ancillary services while the service is re-started, the Sunday train will enable lovers of Dartmoor to get access this wonderful National Park.' Okehampton county councillor, Christine Marsh, added: 'I'm pleased this has now been confirmed. Let's hope people use and make the most of the service to help keep it going.' This year's Dartmoor Sunday Rover starts on Sunday, May 25 and will run until Sunday, September 27. Connecting with the train at Okehampton are buses for Tavistock and Gunnislake, from where the Tamar Valley line trains run to Bere Alston and Plymouth. Bus service 82 across the centre of the moor completes the Grand Tour back to Exeter. The Sunday Rover Ticket will be available at the same price as last year, £6 adult and £16 for a family of up to five people. This provides bus and rail trips all over Dartmoor and on buses further afield. Single and day return tickets are also available. A leaflet giving full details of fares and times for the trains and buses will be available soon from bus stations, main railway stations and tourist information centres. Bus and train times are available from Traveline on 08457 200 22 33.
