New station and transport hub opens

A new railway station and transport hub has officially opened in Devon.

The £18m Okehampton interchange provides an extra stop between the town's station and Crediton on the Dartmoor Line.

The aim of the interchange is to make it easier for people to travel to Exeter and beyond, with its close proximity to the A30 and a a 200 space car park, costing people £2 to park all day.

A ceremony was held on Friday ahead of the official launch of passenger services on Saturday, where central Devon MP Sir Mel Stride, councillors and rail representatives attended, saying it was a "proud moment" for everyone who had worked hard to deliver the project.

Outside the station is a new bus stop and drop-off area, as well as sheltered cycle parking facilities.

Work began on the site off Exeter Road about 12 months ago following a £13.5m grant from the government and match funding from West Devon Borough Council, Devon County Council and Network Rail.

Sir Mel said when trains were axed between Okehampton and Exeter 55 years ago, a lot of hope for the future went with it.

He said: "That is what we are bringing back here today with this fantastic new station.

"It will bring a meaningful difference to people's lives - from those studying apprenticeships at Exeter College to job opportunities."

West Devon Borough Council leader Mandy Ewings said the interchange was the most important of the town's two stations and would be the starting point for rural Devon and rural Cornwall to be connected.

She added the council was working with the Kernow Connect project which proposes a new rail corridor broadly following the A30, linking Okehampton with Launceston and Bodmin.

Michael Ireland, founder of OkeRail - a group which campaigned for passenger services to return to Okehampton - said the drive had been 18 years' work.

He added: "It will bring more people to Okehampton and get them out of their cars which is vitally important.

"Sustainable transport is what we need."

Joanna Grew, route strategy director for Network Rail and Great Western Railway, said this new station was "another important step" to make rail travel easier and more accessible across the region.

Jacqi Hodgson, cabinet member for climate change and biodiversity from Devon County Council, added hopes the new interchange would ease traffic pressures in Okehampton as well as making it easier for residents to choose sustainable ways to travel.

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