WITH campaigners still hopeful that a regular Okehampton to Exeter train service can be resurrected, their efforts have been buoyed by the fact groundwork for a new parkway rail station car park on the east side of the town has been carried out.

Groundwork for a 300 space car park has been carried out on Devon County Council land for the proposed Okehampton Parkway station — which would be located just two minutes from the A30.

If plans for the new station are approved the new car park would be built in Okehampton Business Park and would provide parking facilities for train commuters.

Earlier this year the Secretary of State, Chris Grayling, announced intentions to potentially reintroduce a trial rail service between Okehampton and Exeter by the end of 2018.

Devon County Council is working closely with Great Western Railway, Dartmoor Railway, OkeRail and Okehampton residents on the design of the required infrastructure for the station.

OkeRail CIC director Bob Rush, who has submitted detailed proposals for the new station, said: ‘With the business park and at least 120,000 residents in West Devon and North Cornwall without a nearby rail service, there is a very clear need to restore rail connectivity into Exeter for both work and leisure.

‘Rail services throughout Britain are becoming revitalised in recent years. The reintroduction of the Okehampton services is long overdue.’