Okehampton station given new name

Key figures from Great Western Railway, Network Rail, Devon County Council, West Devon Borough Council, as well as the Central Devon MP, Mel Stride gathered at the site of Okehampton railway station on Friday, May 11 to unveil its new name. 

The station will be known as Okehampton Interchange. 

Situated on the outskirts of Okehampton, just a two-minute drive from the A30, the station aims to improve rail access for residents of North Cornwall and West Devon. 

It will feature a larger car park, improved bus links, and better access for pedestrians and cyclists.

Councillor Andrea Davis, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment, and Transport said: “The Okehampton Interchange will broaden access to the Dartmoor line, encouraging more sustainable transportation options.”

Mel Stride, MP for Central Devon, welcomed the station's naming as a positive step for the local community. 

He said: “This is the first step for a project that will benefit thousands of local people.”

David Whiteway, GWR Regional Growth Manager said: “The new Okehampton Interchange will support community and local economies.”

“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.”

Following the success of the reopening of the Dartmoor Line in November 2021, more than £13 million was granted for a new station as part of the Government’s Levelling Up Fund.

Bogdan Lupu, Network Rail industry programme director, said: “We’re looking forward to building another new station for the south-west.

“Reopening the Dartmoor Line was a fantastic achievement and Okehampton Interchange will connect even more people to the railway.”

With funding secured for its construction, the Okehampton Interchange is set to improve transportation infrastructure and connectivity in the area, providing residents with enhanced travel options.