REFERENCE the recent letter by Alan Finch regarding losing the widely used and enjoyed Granite Way cycling/walking path for the re-instatement of railway line.

I can sympathise with his view. I lived in Okehampton for six years and there was regular talk about instigating a rail service to Exeter but it never happened. It was not viewed economically viable given the population of the Okehampton area and the good A30 road connection to Exeter.

Regarding this new alternative route being proposed of up to £700-million investment, while I think it would be great for West Devon to have, I question whether the population of the Tavistock area will provide a high enough percentage of rail travellers.

Furthermore, a recent BBC Spotlight feature quoted this route would add 30 minutes' time on top of the existing route via Dawlish, so unless travellers to Plymouth and beyond wanted a sight-seeing trip, I don't see it being their first choice.

A new direct route between Exeter and Newton Abbot for higher catchment population of south Devon (well over 150,000 people) sounds like a faster route and better investment return to me should the Dawlish line continue to be severed.

I Daws

Teignmouth

(formerly of Okehampton)