Exclusive by Alan Quick

AN important meeting on the future of rail in the Crediton area will take place in the town at the Boniface Centre at 1.30pm, on Saturday, November 28.

The local branch of Railfuture has arranged the meeting to look at the possible restoration of a daily Exeter to Okehampton passenger rail service, in advance of a possible reopening through to Tavistock and Plymouth.

Speakers will include Bruce Thompson, Rail Strategy Lead Officer, Devon County Council; John Burch, vice-chairman, Tarka Rail Association; Chris Austin, chairman, Avocet Line Rail Users Group; Cllr Dr Michael Ireland of Destination Okehampton and Gerard Duddridge, chairman, Devon and Cornwall branch of Railfuture.

Non-members of Railfuture are welcome to attend.

Central Devon MP Mel Stride, local councillors including Sandford and Creedy Councillor Mrs Judi Binks and Crediton Town Council are all particularly keen on the reopening of the Crediton to Okehampton route and its eventual progress on to Tavistock and Plymouth because of the resulting economic benefits to our part of Central Devon.

Previously the Peninsula Rail Task Force (PRTF) has been looking at how to improve the South West’s rail network following the storms at Dawlish in 2014 that led to the closure of the rail line into Devon and Cornwall.

The task force published interim plans for improving the region’s rail network in its report “On Track – the 20-year plan interim report”.

In the report, the PRTF highlights a three-point plan, a resilient and reliable railway, reduced journey times to improve connectivity to and from the South West peninsula, and sufficient capacity, quality and comfort.

The northern route through Okehampton is described as being “crucial” to the capacity and quality aspect of the three-point plan.

Mel Stride called the report “a huge step forward in making the northern route happen”.

The final PTRF report is due to be published next year, however, in its hypothetical timeline the report suggests work begins on the Okehampton line and beyond upgrades in 2025-2029.

Some lobbying for this to be included sooner has begun, namely to the Government, Network Rail and the Rail Minister Claire Perry.

The works to upgrade the line are anticipated would cost the Government many millions of pounds.

• Do you think a daily rail service would have an economic benefit to the Crediton area? Would you use the train if it passed through Crediton to Okehampton or, in the future, beyond? Should the Government invest millions of pounds into improving the rail line to Okehampton and beyond?

If you have a view, why not share it with fellow “Courier” readers”

Send a letter, suitable for publication, to the Editorial Manager, “Crediton Courier”, 102 High Street, Crediton EX17 3LF or email: [email protected] .