THERE are many rural and social benefits for communities in Mid and West Devon and North Cornwall for re-opening the former LSWR rail route from Exeter to Plymouth via Okehampton and Tavistock.

Understandably, after the problems at Dawlish the attention went to looking at a diversionary route to Plymouth and Cornwall, but the need is far greater then that.

Within the next five years we need to have in place a rail service from Exeter to Plymouth via Okehampton and Tavistock. There is a single line to Okehampton, which is used in the summer for people to travel to Exeter, which is very popular. A regular service into Exeter from Okehampton would be a start, a service the people in the area could use; maybe network Rail and GWR could offer a train service to Exeter for Christmas shopping on the four weekends before Christmas.

There are many challenges ahead. There is a need to study the route across the Meldon Viaduct with a single track bed and twinning the lines both sides of Okehampton at a later date. One has also to look at the few properties in the way as it requires great sensitivity towards residents along the route.

I, like many other people, think with a Park and Ride station at Sourton Cross this would cover a huge area of Devon and Cornwall and would help reduce road congestion on the A30 and to the roads leading off the A30 into Exeter city.

I understand our Prime Minister David Cameron has a personal interest in ensuring the connectivity of the South West so I have asked North Cornwall MP Scott Mann to take the matter up with him and Network Rail.

From Les Whaley

Publicity officer, Launceston Railway Circle