THE last heritage train to run on the Dartmoor Railway 'for the foreseeable future' ran last week.

The 'Dartmoor Explorer' train, organised by the Dartmoor Society, travelled the complete length of line from Okehampton to Coleford Junction near Yeoford, then to Meldon and back to Okehampton last Friday.

One hundred and eighty passengers rode on the train, a former British Rail main line diesel locomotive, with first class former British Rail Inter-City coaches.

The train was the last heritage service on the line 'for the foreseeable future' according to Dartmoor Railway operations and duty manager Roger Webster.

British American Rail Services, which became the owner of Dartmoor Railway CIC in 2008, has decided to redesign the services it offers, with the suspension of heritage services and the creation of a new up-market dining train service run throughout the weekend. The dining service is due to start in June.

Both the station and model shop will remain open from 10am to 5pm on Tuesdays and Sundays. The buffet is open through each weekend from Friday to Sunday, from 10am to 4pm.