Hatherleigh Town Council is very supportive of the Okehampton rail service initiative group OkeRAIL http://okerail.2day.uk/ which is campaigning to see the reintroduction of a passenger train service for weekdays from Okehampton to Exeter, therefore linking into the rest of the train line network.
They recently held a consultation day, see below their information leaflet and the questionnaire form which can be printed and returned to them.
Read their press release here –
Overwhelming support for OkeRAIL’ s Public Consultation event at Charter Hall last Saturday
Over 250 people attended the first OkeRAIL Public Consultation event – including our MP Mel Stride, the Mayors of both Okehampton and Hatherleigh – and attendees from all over the West Devon and North Cornwall!
Not only were attendees able record their support, see possible future plans for an additional Okehampton Parkway station but crucially have a real feel for how imminent the OkeRAIL restoration project really is.
It will cost around just £1 million to fully restore Okehampton to Exeter services. In four years we could have viable, regular services running again.
Surveys conducted at the event indicated that almost 60% of attendees would use the service on a daily basis – with 27% going on from Exeter to London and beyond.
Additionally the overwhelming conclusion of the event was that the service would not only transform Okehampton but all our principle towns of Launceston, Crediton, Tavistock and to the North, Holsworthy and Bude.
Richard Wolfenden-Brown of The Bude & Holsworthy Railway Action Group commented ‘the main surprise is that the line to Okehampton did not reopen years ago. It just seems the obvious thing to happen for so many reasons and the new group in Bude and Holsworthy will do all we can to help our colleagues in the Okehampton area to get the line open with all speed.
Does this mark the end of 50 years of neglect and abuse of Okehampton rail links?
It is up to us.
The OkeRail exhibition is turning into a ‘Railshow’ for the region. There will be events at Crediton, Tavistock, Launceston Bude and many others.
What can you do?
Support the crowd funding, (over £3,660 has already been pledged) ‘like’ our Facebook page (OkeRAIL) write to your MPs , councillors and especially to County Hall in Exeter. We need urgency in our campaign!
For more please visit OkeRAIL on Facebook or www.okerail.2day.uk or Twitter or call Mike Davies 07771933718 Chair of OkeRail Forum