OKERAIL, the stakeholders organisation supporting the reinstated passenger services on the Okehampton to Crediton and Exeter Dartmoor Line, has published an announcement regarding changes to the line’s timetable - and that of its connecting 118 bus service - from Sunday.
The new timetable, which starts on Sunday, December 12, sees slight changes to the times, but the biggest alteration is that the majority of trains will now run through to Exeter Central every day of the week.
OkeRail said: "This is fantastic news for commuters, students and those wishing to shop in the city. Of course it also enables those who live in the city to get a train to visit Okehampton more easily too."
In addition, the connecting 118 bus service linking Tavistock, Lydford and Okehampton town centre to Okehampton railway station will now run every day of the week too, including Sundays.
There will also be a Sunday lunchtime extension to the bus service which will see one journey a day running from Okehampton station through to Gunnislake station, terminus of the Tamar Valley Line to Plymouth via Calstock, Bere Alston and Bere Ferrers. This should make circular journeys by train and bus possible.
With this Sunday bus, passengers will be able to leave Okehampton station at 11.30am, and the town’s West Street at 11.35am, before reaching Tavistock bus station at 12.23pm. They will then have just over an hour to look around Tavistock town before the bus leaves for Gunnislake at 1.35pm, arriving at the Tamar Valley Line terminus at 1.55pm. This will allow passengers to catch the train to Plymouth departing Gunnislake at 2.11pm.The return bus will then leave Gunnislake station at 2pm and will run through to Okehampton railway station, arriving there at 3.16pm - in time for the train to Exeter leaving Okehampton at 3.26pm and reaching Exeter St Davids at 4.04pm (under a timetable amendment published on December 12 it is now necessary to change with this train if continuing to Exeter Central).
For those holding a valid train ticket, the bus fare between Okehampton and Tavistock is £3 single, and £4.50 single for those without a train ticket. The bus fare between Okehampton town centre and Okehampton railway station is £1 single.
For 118 bus timetable information see https://bustimes.org/services/118-tavistock-okehampton?date=2021-12-12