THE restoration of regular train services on the Okehampton to Exeter line is second on a list of four major projects for Great Western Railway (GWR) in 2019, according to Matthew Golton, commercial development director at the GWR stakeholder’s conference earlier this year, writes Christine Williams.

To back up evidence that the Okehampton line is a GWR priority was clear when he remarked: “We will know we have succeeded when we have got adverts in Bude and Bridport!”

This good news was given by Dr Michael Ireland, of Okerail, in a powerpoint presentation entitled ‘Making the Case for the Okehampton Line’ to more than 50 members and supporters of the action group Connect Bude at its annual meeting in the ballroom of the Falcon Hotel last Saturday, October 27.

He said 100,000 people living in North Cornwall and north-west Devon lived in a ‘rail desert’ and Bude had the reputation of being the most remote town from railway in the country. The restoration of the railway with a fast coach link from Cornwall and West Devon would regenerate the economy, benefit tourism and provide residents access to jobs, education and culture. Mike Davis, chairman of OkeRail, had recently met MP Joe Johnson, now a Minister for Transport, who had said that as soon as he received a report from GWR on the reopening of the line, train services would start, possibly in late 2019 or early 2020. Dr Ireland also reported that Cllr Andrea Davis, Devon County Council’s cabinet member for infrastructure development and the new chairman of the Peninsula Rail Task Force, had said that proposals were being developed to reintroduce regular trains, to reinstate the track between Meldon Quarry and Bere Alston via Tavistock and that she would continue to push for improvements that would deliver a more resilient and better passenger experience for people living in the South West peninsula. Dr Ireland also gave details of the possible timing of trains making it possible to spend a day in London. He ended by reiterating the need for fast coordinated coach links from North Cornwall and West Devon and that to achieve success all community groups in the area needed to work together.

The meeting had begun with chairman, Richard Wolfenden-Brown welcoming more than 50 members and supporters and introducing the committee. His proposal that the Falcon Hotel be made an honorary corporate member for kindly hosting the group meetings at no cost was readily approved. Seven members of the action group were elected unopposed and Michael Moore gave a brief membership and financial report. They now had 99 supporters and 94 members and a healthy balance in their account. However, Chris Jewell said they needed to recruit some younger members and find ways of keeping members in touch. Regular newsletters and quarterly social events were suggested.

With the business of the annual meeting dispatched, a public meeting followed and Richard read the text for a proposed recruitment pamphlet which illustrated their progress since Bude Youth Theatre’s production ‘The Last Train to Bude’ in 2016 had aroused interest in the restoration of a rail service to Bude. Action group meetings were being held monthly, they had a constitution, a website and a leaflet was in preparation. They had joined with Okerail, given talks and held membership drives, lobbied local and national politicians and had the support of Bude-Stratton Town Council and MP for North Cornwall Scott Mann. The Royal Oke chartered train excursion to Oxford and Stratford-upon-Avon in April had been a great success. GWR had been instructed to draw up plans, he said, and rail travel was gaining momentum. While investigating the feasibility of a coach service to connect with trains at Okehampton, a parkway station and the northern route to Tavistock they were keeping their eyes on the prize of a line to Bude.

During a time for questions and comments the need for Cornwall Council to become involved in the provision of a fast connecting coach service, the importance of community engagement, the poor state of roads in the area and the readiness and availability of the tracks were raised. Dr Ireland emphasised that the services between Exeter and Okehampton were not a trial and, subject to a lease on 15 miles of the line held by British and American Rail Services expiring next year, he would expect services to begin in 2020.

A year ago Richard Wolfenden-Brown had challenged Connect Bude to reach a target of 100 members by the 2018 annual meeting. That target was more than achieved at the end of this meeting when ten more people joined.