Mel Stride MP and OkeRail Forum Chairman Mike Davies met at Sampford Courtenay station recently to discuss the importance of the stop when plans for the new Okehampton to Exeter passenger rail service are finalised. At present, tens of thousands of residents in West Devon either have to drive to Crediton, Exeter or Plymouth to catch the train, but this is set to change with the introduction of a regular passenger service between Okehampton and Exeter. The pair recently met with Transport Minister Jo Johnson who committed the Department for Transport to giving a start date for the service as soon as possible after feasibility studies are completed by Great Western Railway.
Mel said:
“Residents in my constituency in North Tawton and surrounding villages such as Iddesleigh, Monkokehampton, Broadwoodkelly, Exbourne and Jacobstowe would find it much more convenient to catch the train to Exeter from Sampford Courtenay rather than Okehampton. I also suspect many Hatherleigh residents would prefer this as an option – it’s fractionally closer for them and would crucially reduce the number of cars travelling into Okehampton.”
Cllr Davies added:
“With congestion in Okehampton a problem at busy times of day it would be a big help if the station at Sampford Courtenay could be fully utilised as a regular stop on the route and this is something Mel and I will press very hard for.”
