A CAMPAIGN group working to bring a mainline rail service back to Okehampton is meeting today (Thursday) to discuss Dartmoor Railway being put up for sale.
OkeRail has been working for more than 10 years to see a regular passenger service from Okehampton to Exeter reintroduced.
Crucially the sale of Dartmoor Railway includes the lease of 15 miles of track from Meldon Quarry to Coleford Junction, over which a regular passenger service from Okehampton to Exeter would need to run.
Owners British American Railway Services (BARS) confirmed this week it was selling Dartmoor Railway, which it has owned for 11 years, along with its other UK assets, heritage railway Weardale Railway and a freight company.
-charity-shop-on-West-Street-in-Okehampton.jpeg?width=209&height=140&crop=209:145,smart&quality=75)
Ed Ellis, president of Iowa Pacific Holdings in Chicago, the parent company of British American Railway Services, said: ‘During the past 11 years, Iowa Pacific supported BARS financially. I made the decision to put Iowa Pacific into receivership last fall and concluded that it’s time to find new owners for the assets of BARS.’
Dartmoor Railway runs days out by train from Okehampton station including the popular Polar Express/Train to Christmas Town at Christmas.
Sales particulars for the railway market it as an operational heritage railway.
Property surveyors Walker Singleton said there was scope for business development of what was a ‘recognised and respected brand’ which had a turnover of £465,000 in 2018.
However Dr Michael Ireland, chairman of OkeRail, said he was concerned that the company being offered for ‘another heritage railway’ would stand in the way of getting a mainline service back on the line.
‘The worrying thing is that if it is bought for another heritage hobby railway because we need a proper service,’ he said.
‘This isn’t just an Okehampton concern, it is a concern for Tavistock and the whole of the surrounding area.
‘We need a proper service for the social and economic good of our area and that this is what we have waited ten years for and which the heritage railway has held up. The whole point is to get the mainline service. That has to happen.’
The sale of the Dartmoor Railway stands to affect the staff based at Okehampton Railway Station, which has a cafe and shop and also the volunteers of the Dartmoor Railway Supporters’ Association who work hard to keep it going.
The association said: in a statement: ‘We extend our sympathy to all the employees affected.We will publish further news as the situation develops.’
The line itself is owned by Meldon Quarry owners Aggregate Industries while Okehampton Railway Station is owned by Devon County Council.
A spokesperson for Aggregate Industries said: ‘We can confirm that we are the owner of the branchline between Coleford Junction and Meldon Quarry and that we are working with stakeholders to facilitate a proposed regular passenger rail service between Okehampton and Exeter. We have nothing further to add at this stage.’
Town councillor Jan Goffey said: ‘Finally, news. I feel for all the volunteers and staff who have done their best under very difficult circumstances but at last we can move forward.
‘Let’s hope our West Devon Borough Council, Devon County Council and (our) MP will work with the Town and the Hamlets for a proper railway service, at last.’