Residents of West Devon will now be able to make use of a brand-new connection point as Okehampton Interchange station has begun offering passenger services.
The latest addition to the Dartmoor Line; Okehampton Interchange has been constructed in an effort to provide improved rail services for communities across West Devon, Torridge and North Cornwall, offering services to Exeter as well as connections across the wider network.
Senior representatives from Network Rail, Great Western Railway (GWR), Devon County Council and West Devon Borough Council came together to mark the historic occasion, including Joanna Grew, Route Strategy Director for Network Rail and GWR, Cllr Jacqi Hodgson, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Biodiversity for Devon County Council & Julian Brazil, leader of Devon County Council; and Cllr Mandy Ewings, leader of West Devon Borough Council.
Joanna Grew, Route Strategy Director for Network Rail and GWR, said:It's fantastic to see Okehampton Interchange open and ready to welcome its first passengers. The Dartmoor Line has already made a real difference since services returned in 2021, and this new station is another important step in making rail travel easier and more accessible for all across the region.
We're incredibly proud of what has been achieved through close partnership working and excited to see the difference this station will make for local people, businesses and visitors alike
The new station complements the town’s existing station (Okehampton station), and builds on community backing for the reopening of the Dartmoor Line, which saw the return of daily passenger services in 2021 – over 50 years since regular services were withdrawn.
Since its re-introduction, the line saw more than half a million journeys taken within the first two years of operation, exceeding initial projections.
Okehampton Interchange station features a 200-space car park, sheltered cycle storage and a covered bus interchange, with electric vehicle charging points set to be introduced at the station in the coming months.
The station, which was made possible via an 18 million GBP investment utilising 13.5 million GBP of government funding, offers step-free access throughout via ramps, lifts and a footbridge.
Bids for the station were handled by West Devon Borough Council, with support from Devon County Council on the business case – with both authorities providing match funding.
The overall project saw collaboration by a wide number of partners, with Network Rail overseeing delivery of the station through their contractor Octavius. Devon County Council led the delivery of walking, cycling and bus facilities on Hameldown Road, constructed by Kennford Tarmacadam, and the environmental work through its consultants WSP.
Current projections see the station delivering significant economic benefits, with preliminary research indicating that railway stations across the South West could support up to 238,000 jobs and contribute 14.25 billion GBP to the economy by 2035.
Okehampton Interchange, alongside Marsh Barton station in Exeter, are projected to generate around 1,500 permanent jobs and contribute approximately 112 million GBP annually to the local economy over the next decade.
