WITH the return of Okehampton’s summer rail service to Exeter last Sunday, residents are being urged to make use of the trains to prove the need for a second coach and the desire for a full-time rail service for Okehampton.

On Sunday, members of Okehampton Town Council, Hatherleigh Mayor Cllr Clare Tyson, Cllr Derek Webber of Okehampton Hamlets Parish Council and others went up to the station to welcome the first Sunday train of the summer season.

Demand for the first train of the summer, the 9.55am morning service, was unprecedented, with over 100 passengers turning up for to the 76 seater single coach service. The situation was soon rectified with two car train operating services for the rest of the day.

The service was also the first summer train to Okehampton since the formation of OkeRail, a group bringing together local authorities and community groups with an effort to promote and fight for the return of a regular passenger rail service between Okehampton and Exeter by the end of 2017. The group wishes to see as many people as possible use the Sunday trains to highlight the town’s desire for a full-time service and ensure the Sunday service continues to have two coaches.

Cllr Mike Davies, chair of OkeRail, said: ‘Firstly we were all delighted to see the support given to the first train. The platform was full of people waiting to get the train to Exeter.

‘It was a shame that GWR only provided a single coach train. This meant that the coach was full and we understand that some people decided not to travel.

‘The sizeable number of passengers boarding the train at Okehampton Station on the first train demonstrated the importance of a permanent rail link between Okehampton and Exeter.  Okehampton provides a crucial connection to lots of towns and villages north of the county and North Cornwall.

‘We spoke to one of the on duty GWR staff when we arrived at Exeter, and they said that they would put a second coach on the train later in the day. Although this is great news, obviously we would have loved to see two coaches on the first train.

‘We have been working very hard to get GWR to agree to provide two coaches on the service, and will use the events of Sunday morning as further evidence why they should.’

Cllr Kevin Ball, county councillor for Okehampton Rural, said: ‘We appeal to all those who had difficulties to persevere with the service. If the train continues to be full, it enables OkeRail to put more pressure on GWR to provide a second coach. Rest assured, we will continue to apply that pressure.

‘The service will run every Sunday throughout the summer until September. So we would like to thank everyone for their support, and we promise to continue to work hard to see a daily service return.’

Cllr Dr Michael Ireland, chair of Destination Okehampton, a council working party who have advocated the return of the railway, said: ‘It is hoped that a two car train will now operate for the rest of the summer season on Sundays to and from Okehampton. Great Western staff told me that this is subject to their own maintenance schedule and available stock.

‘Working with OkeRail and Devon County Council, GWR are to be congratulated on the production of an excellent promotional leaflet ‘Summer trains to Okehampton’ which gives passengers from Exeter a real sense of what the town has to offer the tourist.

‘All the groups involved in this service want to encourage two way travel, spreading the economic benefits of tourism. We hope local businesses in Okehampton will respond and be open on Sundays.’

Regional development manager Dan Okey said: ‘I am delighted to announce the return of these Sunday services between Exeter and Okehampton.

‘These four return trips on Summer Sundays demonstrates our commitment to working in partnership with Devon County Council, and the newly formed OkeRail group, in support of the local community and businesses that we serve.’

Although OkeRail is independent, Devon County Council is supporting the group with technical and strategic transport advice.

Councillor Andrew Leadbetter, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Economy and Growth, said: ‘The OkeRail project has empowered the community to work towards re-establishing daily train services on the existing infrastructure.

‘The group and its aims have the full support of the county council. The intention of the Dartmoor Rover [Sunday train service] was always to act as a catalyst to improve services and the community has galvanised to work together to meet its aspirations.

‘Rail is a key to enabling economic growth, and this project fits in well with the county council’s strategic and economic aims.’

In her mayoral acceptance speech last Wednesday, new Okehampton Mayor Cllr Jan Goffey said:‘Progress towards a daily service to Exeter continues to be made and as a town this will make such a difference to our residents. Especially if we have a Park and Ride set up with a regular bus service down into town, or a coach park? We have been and will continue working towards this goal.’

The summer trains will now run to and from Okehampton each Sunday until September 11.