THE sale of tickets for the Royal Oke, a special one-off train service from Okehampton to London, is proving the demand for the return of a rail service to the town.

Train tickets went on sale last Thursday and within the first 24 hours 250 were sold. By Tuesday, 390 of the 505 seats available have sold, with expectations that the train could sell out in the coming days.

The train is thought to be the first Pullman train in almost half a century to travel directly to London Paddington from Okehampton Station.

The one-off rail service will leave Okehampton on Saturday, March 18 at 7.45am and arrive three hours later, stopping at Crediton and Exeter St Davids on its journey.

The train consist of eight coaches including one first class coach, six standard coaches and a Pullman dining coach. It will set off from London Paddington at 6.05pm and arrive back in Okehampton at 9.15pm.

This unique train journey has been the result of hard work and perseverance from members of the voluntary groups, OkeRail Forum and OkeRail Community Interest Company.

In order to fund the project, the groups received significant financial assistance from Okehampton United Charity as well as two £500 grants from Okehampton Town Council and Okehampton Hamlets Parish Council.

Those behind organising the train hope that it demonstrates the commercial demand for the restoration of rail services to Okehampton.

Mike Davies, chairman of the OkeRail Forum, said: ‘I am so pleased that all of the planning has come together. It has not been easy to organise but the date is now fixed and the train booked. It will be a wonderful atmosphere on the train and a great community day out. Let’s hope that this is just one more step in establishing the daily Okehampton service to Exeter.

‘I would like to express my sincere appreciation to all of those who have financially supported the project. In particular the Okehampton United Charities, Okehampton Town Council, and Okehampton Hamlets Parish Council.’

Michael Ireland, chair of OkeRail CIC, said: ‘The Royal Oke’ special train is aimed at the local community of Okehampton, the Hamlets and nearby towns, Launceston, Hatherleigh and Bude. It is not a rail enthusiast special.

‘I am pleased that it is local families who will get to use the service, some of those may never have been to London by train and certainly not from Okehampton station. 

‘The hope is that the train will demonstrate to local and national government the economic and social benefits of re-establishing a seven day a week rail service to the town after a lapse of 45 years.’

Bob Rush, director of OkeRail CIC, said: ‘OkeRail CIC is proud to be organising this special event, to publicise and promote the replacement of our long-awaited passenger rail service for thousands of local residents. The amount of interest and enthusiasm clearly tells the decision makers that we are serious and demanding our reconnection with the rest of the UK. We have waited far too long.’

Okehampton Town Councillor Julie Yelland said: ‘It is absolutely essential that a commercial line is reinstated as soon as possible. It will bring so many benefits to Okehampton.  

‘Last year I was attending a training course in Exeter. I had to be in the city centre by 9.15am which meant I needed to leave home at 7.45am to get through the Exeter traffic. If there had been a train service from Okehampton to Exeter, it would have reduced my travel time considerably.

‘Anyone who currently travels to Exeter to work from Okehampton is all too well aware of the congestion that exists at Alphington during commuter times. A regular train service would go a very long way to relieving that problem plus reduce the impact to the environment from the air pollution caused by queuing traffic.

‘A regular train service will not only improve links to Exeter and beyond, it will mean that people can travel into the area to access the open moorland and visit the shops, pubs and cafes in Okehampton. This will make a real difference to the town’s economy.’

Richard Searight, chairmen of the Peninsula Rail Group, added: ‘The restoration of rail services is crucial to the economic development of our region. It is cheap and easy to reinstate the services as the train lines already exist.' 

For more information about the Royal Oke train to London, visit www.okerail.2day.uk

You can also follow the ‘Royal Oke Special Train’ event and ‘OkeRail’ pages on Facebook for further information on how to buy tickets.