More delays for Okehampton - Exeter rail link - but it's still on track...

Back in the spring there was much excitement about the imminent re-introduction of a daily rail service from Okehampton to Exeter. It was to start at 'the end of May'. This was delayed until 'the end of July'- then all went quiet.

But behind the scenes, the Dartmoor Railway has been fighting a rearguard battle with officialdom - in the form of the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR).

An ORR spokesman said: "ORR needs to verify that a company is able to operate before any licence is issued. "A public consultation has begun so that interested parties can comment on the application. We cannot issue any licences until the consultation has finished, and then we will make our decision. We have already issued the necessary safety certificate, and the company will also need to negotiate track access rights so that it can use the railway."

The consultation started on August 26, and runs until September 22.

Dartmoor Railway remain optimistic that they can find their way through the red tape, and that services will start before Christmas.

For more details see The Western Morning News. Okehampton People will be be following the progress of the consultation... keeping logging and keep up to date!