Prioritise Okehampton

Christopher Hortin suggests the Teign Valley route as a cheaper and simpler diversionary route for west of Exeter services than via Okehampton ( Open Access, RAIL 867).

Railfuture recognises the advantages for Torbay, but 15¼ miles of restored track only backs up 18¾ of the 52 miles between Exeter and Plymouth.

On the other hand, the whole Exeter to Plymouth line, including these stations, is covered by restoring 20½ miles of track via Okehampton. So, no trains trapped on the wrong side of any incident in Devon, and access to Laira depot maintained.

A series of closures in 1997 first strengthened our support for the Okehampton diversionary route: on February 8, a broken rail at Hemerdon; on March 6-10, a derailed HST at Newton Abbot; River Exe bridge replacement in Exeter on two October Saturdays and six Sundays from October 5, for engineering work.

In 1998, a front HST power car fire closed the line at the foot of the Hemerdon incline for four hours (October 31), and incidents have continued to date.

The Okehampton route is substantially intact, although Meldon Viaduct (built of wrought and cast iron) might have to be replaced alongside in the future. In Tavistock, the Callington Road under bridge would be too low for traffic, but a bow string design and slightly raised track would solve this. Also in Tavistock, 11 houses block the trackbed, but “what are you worrying about?” was the view of a council officer whom I chatted to in the offices that are also on the track bed.

The Teign Valley line reinstatement would be more difficult. Near Exeter, the A30 trunk road cuts across, requiring realignment and regrading of road and railway. The half-mile Perridge tunnel has a collapse from the crown. This might relate to a shaft, or to the tunnel following too closely the trend of the highly fractured and folded rocks. Reboring might be necessary.

Only six houses directly block the line of route, but many more are visibly close to the line. At Chudleigh, 1¾ miles is lost under the A38 trunk road.

Given strong local support for the Okehampton route, and that it would serve a large area of rail-less Devon, this must be the priority. Gerard Duddridge, Chairman, Railfuture Devon and Cornwall