It has been announced that daily Okehampton to Exeter trains will start running next month, ahead of schedule, with an initial service every two hours.

For the first time in nearly 50 years, regular passenger services will begin running on the Dartmoor Line, connecting Okehampton to Crediton and Exeter, on Saturday, November 20 – the first time this has happened since daily services ended in 1972, apart from summer Sunday Dartmoor Rover trains run with the support of Devon County Council.

The line’s reconnection as part of the national network is the first reopening under the Government’s Restoring Your Railway programme, which is exploring ways to return old lines and stations to service across the country.

The route of the line – which survived thanks to Meldon Quarry needing an outlet for its good-quality stone ballast - connects Exeter St Davids, Crediton and Okehampton, providing a launchpad for incoming visitors to explore Dartmoor, and regional links for local commuters from West Devon and North Cornwall to travel to Exeter and beyond while leaving their cars behind.

Around half of services, including ones at peak times, will also carry on to Exeter Central. The reopening of the route is expected to boost local businesses, the tourism sector, and provide greater access to education and work for thousands of people who live locally.

The Department and its partners have accelerated the reopening of the railway, delivering passenger services in only 9 months from the original funding being approved to entry into service, and saving money at the same time. As the Government continues its overhaul of the railways following the Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail, more lines and stations will be re-opened.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “‘The project, funded by over £40m from the Department for Transport, is part of the wider campaign to reverse catastrophic cuts to the rail network primarily led by the Beeching axe.

“The work has been a successful collaboration between the DfT, Network Rail, GWR, Devon County Council, Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership, and local campaigners and MPs.”

Mark Hopwood, GWR Managing Director, said: “Working with our partners at Network Rail and in the community we have long campaigned for the re-opening of this important local line, and we are really looking forward to being able to start running passenger trains again.

“With the start of services now just over a month away, this announcement is great news for communities surrounding Okehampton who will once again be connected to the national network.

“We’ve been working hard with Network Rail and local partners, including Devon County Council, to help prepare the line and the station at Okehampton for reopening on 20 November and this work will continue after 20 November as we develop the station facilities.

“The project to re-open the line is already helping to bring social and economic benefits to the local area reinforces the positive impact the railway can have on the communities we serve.”

Mike Gallop, Network Rail’s Western route and strategic operations director, said: “We’re delighted that we’ve reopened this much needed railway line for passenger services in just 9 months and ahead of schedule.

“Our team has worked incredibly hard alongside our project partners GWR, Devon County Council, Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership and the local community to ensure this railway is ready to open.

“We can’t wait to welcome passengers back to the Dartmoor Line after an absence of nearly 50 years, linking passengers to Exeter and services to the rest of the country.”

Regular passenger services will run on the route for the first time since 1972 following years of campaigning by local supporters. Since 1997, the line has only been open during the summer, with trains to Exeter only on Sundays.

To make the reopening possible, Network Rail’s team of engineers has worked tirelessly to deliver a huge programme of work to physically reopen the line in just 9 months, including laying 11 miles of new track and installing 24,000 concrete sleepers and 29,000 tonnes of ballast in record time. Repairs have also been made to 21 structures along the route including 4 bridges and a range of works including vegetation clearance, earth and drainage works and fencing are ongoing in preparation for the return of regular services.

More work will be carried out over the winter including further work on the station buildings to enable the restoration of the café and other facilities.

Tickets for trains from Okehampton can be bought in advance from this week.