In a press release yesterday the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities announced that:
£13.5 million from the Levelling Up Fund has been provisionally allocated to West Devon for a new railway station on the eastern edge of Okehampton.
The new railway station will be built on the Dartmoor Line that was the first line to be reinstated under the Department for Transport’s ‘Restoring your Railway’ fund. The new station will include:
- step-free access to platforms
- car parking with electric vehicle charging points
- high quality cycle facilities
- a new bus stop
The new station is located close to the A30 junction and will be in addition to Okehampton’s existing station on the West side of the town.
The new hub will level up the Okehampton region, connecting communities in the town. It will also connect the wider West Devon and North Cornwall areas with Exeter.
The press release also includes a link to the West Devon Transport Hub section of the Dartmoor Line web site, which adds that:
The station is planned to open in 2025 as part of the £15 million project.
Funding comes from the government’s Levelling Up Fund (£13.4m), Devon County Council (£1.4m), West Devon Borough Council (£120,000) and Network Rail (£25,000).
Here’s the location map of the new station:
The Dartmoor Line explain in more detail that the West Devon Transport Hub will deliver:
- New single platform railway station on the Dartmoor Line approximately 2.2km east of Okehampton’s existing station.
- Step-free access (series 700 bridge with cover and one lift) with stepped access to both sides of the railway via the footbridge.
- 100m platform meeting GWR new station requirements for station furniture and facilities.
- Car park to the south of the railway line with approximately 200 spaces including 5% disabled parking and 10% Electric Vehicle charging points and cycle parking facilities (Sheffield stands with shelter).
- A new bus stop with shelter and drop-off area, as well as sheltered cycle parking facilities on both sides of station.
- To the north of the station, a new shared cycle/footway facility will connect the station to existing and growing residential areas on the east of Okehampton.
- A series of further cycle improvements include modal filter upgrades along a new signed route towards the town centre, and a new Toucan crossing facility of Exeter Road (B3260) to the south providing connection to the Dartmoor Way leisure walking and cycling route.
