THE name of a new a railway station near Okehampton has been revealed in a special ceremony.
Key figures visited the site of the planned new station on Friday, May 11 to hear that the new station will be called the Okehampton Interchange.
Representatives from Great Western Railway; Network Rail; Devon County Council and West Devon Borough Council, along with Central Devon MP, Mel Stride, were in attendance.
The new station will be on the edge of Okehampton and only a two minute drive from the A30 to improve rail access for North Cornwall and West Devon. The new station will have a larger car park than Okehampton, as well as improved bus links and better access by foot and bicycle.
Unveiling the new name, councillor Andrea Davis, Devon County Council cabinet member for climate change, environment and transport, said: “The popularity of the Dartmoor line has been phenomenal since it reopened and the Okehampton Interchange will broaden its appeal further still, opening up rail access to wider areas of West Devon, Dartmoor and North Cornwall.
“The convenient location of Okehampton Interchange will encourage even more people to take up sustainable travel and the name of the station reflects the integration of rail, bus, cycling and walking links to the station.”
GWR Regional Growth Manager David Whiteway said: “This really is super news for rail and wider sustainable transport choices across the South West.
“The new Okehampton Interchange will build on the massive success that the reopening of the Dartmoor Line has already had, better connecting people with jobs, students with education services, and leisure opportunities for all – providing valuable support for the community and local economies.”