I WAS prompted to write this after reading the letter published in the Times dated March 20 written by Mr Daws. I acknowledge he did say he wasn't against the proposal, however he referred to a number of points which are either inaccurate or are misleading.

Just for information, there is a summer service between Okehampton and Exeter on Sundays, so although nowhere near what we would like, this is a start and to say there is no service at all, wouldn't be completely true.

He refers to costs of up to £700 million to complete, however my sources within the rail community assure me that the cost would be considerably less due to much of the track bed being still there. Although no official costings have been done to my knowledge, figures of £300 million are being talked about as being more realistic.

Secondly he refers to the journey time of an extra 30 minutes. This is complete nonsense. The times for the line are based on 1960's timetabling when much of the line had severe speed restrictions on it. A line built to just a 60 mph standard, with modern sprinter style rolling stock, would complete the journey between Exeter and Plymouth via Okehampton within less than 10 minutes difference than the coastal route.

Thirdly he refers to 150,000 people in the south as a catchment. By introducing the northern route, in excess of 100,000 people would have completely new access to the network. These are those living in central, west and north Devon not to mention those living in north Cornwall. When you add the economic regeneration which always follows a railway route, the benefit to this part of the south west, would be immense. It should also be said that this benefit would inevitably be shared with the south of the county in the way of new tourist traffic. This is something a proposed second route in the south couldn't reciprocate.

One final point I would like to make about estimated costs. From speaking to experts, the actual costs, whatever they are likely to be, will be very similar regardless of which option is taken.

So, would you want to add a line which will have no real extra economic benefit other than keeping the link further west open, or spending the same sort of money to give a much needed boost to business, to re-connect an isolated population to the national network AND provide a complimentary route to ensure further west stays open?

For me the choice is obvious, and for these reasons, I am fully committed to seeing the northern route re-opened. For information see http://prg.2day.ws/">http://prg.2day.ws/

Cllr Kevin Ball

Okehampton

IN response to the recent letters Times I would like to add to the arguments concerning the reinstatement of the main line railway via Okehampton and Tavistock.

I think It is wrong to presume that use of this route would add 30 minutes at least to the Exeter — Plymouth journey times. It is actually only seven miles further round via Okehampton but the route is generally better built than the South Devon line and given modern track alignment, signalling and HST trains I would have thought that timings could be about equal from point to point by either route. Certainly there are stretches capable of fast running as a glance at a map will clearly show, eg Coleford to Sampford Courtenay, which is dead straight.

Perhaps those who live in South Devon should be careful what they wish for. The huge cost of an inland route from Exminster to Newton Abbot — although it might save five minutes or so — may well result in the closure of the sea wall altogether to save the considerable cost of its upkeep. This would mean the closure of Starcross, Dawlish Warren, Dawlish and Teignmouth stations, all by-passed by the new route! Even then there would still be only one route to Plymouth and Cornwall which cannot therefore be a hundred per cent reliable — an essential if freight traffic is to grow. In the medium term I would have thought that the sea wall line must stay but because of its vulnerability an inland route has become a necessity.

At least the Okehampton line would have a use other than as a diversionary one and be a really useful facility for a very large catchment area from Padstow to Bude which is now devoid of any connection to the rail network. An Okehampton Parkway would be very useful indeed especially if there were the odd fast train direct to London.

Some 20 miles from Meldon to Bere Alston would need to be reinstated and costs have been bandied about that are (intended to be?) frightening. As a matter of fact a similar reinstatement job is taking place at the moment for 30 miles from Edinburgh to Galashiels and Tweedmouth, The Borders Railway, which is costing £350 million.

John Holland

REPORTS of the re opening of the Exeter, Okehampton to Tavistock railway that would provide an alternative rail route from Exeter to Plymouth that have emanated from Mel Stride MP are pure fairyland. These pie in the sky propositions are nothing but a red herring to deflect voters attention away from drastic cuts to public services and the likely closure of St Lawrance in Crediton and Okehampton's senior care homes.

The reopening of the Okehampton route is riddled with problems: a new viaduct would be needed at Meldon, the laying of track with passing loops, new infrastructure, the uprooting of West Devon Borough Council offices and numerous dwelling houses, the rebuilding and strengthening of bridges and viaducts would cost in the region of £500 million. The result would be a minimum hour and a half journey time from Plymouth to Exeter, on a largely single track railway, vulnerable to rising sea levels on the low lying track bed between Bere Ferrers and Keyham.

The only feasible route is to redirect the line from Dawlish Warren to behind Dawlish. and then on to Newton Abbot. This will preserve rail access to Torbay and hopefully speed up the journey to Plymouth.

So please Mel Stride, put your energy on what we pay you to do: improving, not destroying public services and stop leading the public astray with half baked schemes that romantic as they may sound, are a total waste of public money.

Justin Beaumont

Glebelands

Down St Mary