SO MUCH cheering it almost drowned the music that greeted the first passenger train to pull in at Okehampton Station for 50 years on Wednesday morning (November 17), made possible through the Government’s £40 million Restoring Your Railway fund.
Okehampton schoolchildren were among the many people crowding Platform One at Okehampton to welcome Transport Secretary Grant Shapps off the train.
He said his job includes looking after trains, adding “but there has never been a more proud moment in my two-and-a-half years in the job as now.”
He added that the service had been completed ahead of schedule, “an incredible achievement” thanks to the partnership of all the parties and the Friends of Okehampton Station, which raised huge cheers from the people on the platform.
He said they had been “absolute heroes” .
“Will anyone forget today and Saturday, it is historic for Dartmoor and Devon. All the cuts (Beeching etc) have been reversed.”
Mr Shapps commented that two-and-a-half weeks earlier he had come off his bike when in Hertfordshire and, while waiting for an ambulance, thought “Oh no, I shall miss the Okehampton train”, but although still suffering a little, was there on time.
There were huge cheers when he added that he would be back in Downing Street that afternoon and “we shall do this around the country.”
He was presented with a Dartmoor Line headboard for a train by Mark Hopwood, GWR Managing Director.
Earlier Mr Hopwood had welcomed the chairman of Network Rail Sir Peter Hendy CBE who said he was so proud of his colleagues for making it possible to re-open the line early and the station was looking “fabulous”, adding “there has never been a faster delivery of a new railway.”
He added that the new technology being used at Okehampton would be applied across the country to do more for passengers at less cost and this was completed two years early. “This has only been possible thanks to everyone involved.”
Cllr Andrea Davis, Cabinet member Devon County Council whose remit includes rail, commented that it was marvellous to see the line reinstated, everyone involved should be proud of what they had achieved in such a short time.
“I am always pleased when Devon leads the way, there must have been a similar fanfare when the first train came in in 1871,” she added.
Mark Hopwood added that the new rail service was also about the start of a new integrated bus service between Okehampton, Lydford and Tavistock, giving customers a seamless public transport.
The events of Wednesday might also mean a new station for Cullompton and, maybe, Tavistock.
It was said that with all the extra trains running on Saturday, Crediton might see more trains than ever before stopping there tomorrow, Saturday.
One train ran on Wednesday morning, another in the afternoon for special people, one of whom was Brenda Ware, clerk to Bow Parish Council.
She had used the train regularly in 1972 to get to work in Exeter until the service stopped, then she used the bus.
Peak time trains will run on to Exeter Central with more doing so from December when the timetable changes.
The new Dart Line bus service is funded by Devon County Council and GWR, with three buses running regularly to Tavistock. Tickets are £1 into Okehampton town centre. Going on to Tavistock is hoped to encourage people not to drive. Dogs can be taken on the train.
The first train on Saturday will leave Okehampton at 7.30am, scheduled to arrive at Exeter St David’s at 8.09am with the last train leaving Okehampton at 21.56.
Among those who thronged Okehampton Station on Wednesday were children from St James’ Primary, Okehampton Primary School and Okehampton College.
Devon County Council chairman Cllr Jeff Trail said this was a fantastic investment for Okehampton, benefitting the town’s businesses, tourism and socially.
Local close harmony trio “The Hummingbirds” got toes tapping with their versions of modern vintage and swing.
It was an amazing morning, the station buzzing with excitement, the children being taken to the driver’s cab during the trip down to Bow and back. At Bow the old platform had been decorated.