Mel Stride MP visited Okehampton this week to promote the launch of the hourly Dartmoor Line service to Exeter via Crediton. Having helped to lead the campaign for the line for over a decade, Mr Stride spoke of having ‘goosebumps’ when he rode on the Dartmoor Line for the first time last November and says the service has fully lived up to expectations. He commented:
“The Dartmoor Line really is achieving everything I hoped it would – it is providing a valuable service to local residents, it is taking cars off the A30 (cutting carbon emissions and reducing traffic into Exeter) and is improving access to training and job opportunities for a generation of young people.”
From today (15/05/22), trains will run every hour, up from the two-hourly service that has been running for the past six months. From Monday to Friday the first train will depart Okehampton at 07.25, stop at Crediton at 07.48, stop at Exeter St Davids at 08.00, and arrive at Exeter Central at 08.05. The last train back gets into Okehampton at 21.55. The Saturday timetable is similar to weekdays and there is also an hourly service on a Sunday but the first train is not until 09.25.
Mr Stride added:
“The commencement of an hourly service, 7 days a week, is yet another significant landmark for the Dartmoor Line. The mission now is to secure funding for a second station on the eastern edge of and I have again been in contact with Rail Minister Wendy Morton this week, making the case that a second station will ease congestion and deliver an even greater economic boost to our local economy.”
For more information and to book tickets visit www.dartmoorline.com.