Dartmoor Line to reopen after half a century

After government funding was secured, it was confirmed that a daily service will resume on the 14-mile stretch of scenic railway, which skirts the northern edge of Dartmoor National Park. Journey times by rail between Exeter and Okehampton are estimated to be 30 per cent less than by bus or car, and the rejuvenated line should also lead to reduced motor traffic on the busy A30 road that links the two.

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Network Rail has been working with Great Western Railway (GWR) since the beginning of 2020 to understand what infrastructure and railway control system improvements are needed to bring the Dartmoor Line up to the required standards to enable GWR to operate trains safely.

Engineers will now immediately begin a range of works including drainage, fencing and earthworks, and will lay over 11 miles of track, replace 24,000 concrete sleepers and install nearly 29,000 tonnes of ballast before running test trains on the track ahead of fully reopening the railway to passengers. GWR expects to introduce the passenger service by the end of 2021 with trains running every two hours, seven days a week.