Press Release from OkeRail
The Royal Oke special trains have a national impact with regard reopening the Okehampton to Exeter line. The Government, directed by Chris Grayling [Minister of Transport] had instructed GWR to prepare plans to reopen this line. GWR Regional Development Manger, Matthew Barnes is preparing a plan for the Department of Transport. An important part of this plan is to demonstrate sub-regional demand for the line, this is why it is essential that key settlements, namely Hatherleigh, Holsworthy and Bude show their support for initiatives such as the 'Royal Oke Specials' & 'Summer Sunday trains'.
On the 21st of April GWR will send representatives of their Swindon management team to travel on the train for the entire journey to assess public support for the line. To make this trip possible Matthew Galton [Development Manager for GWR] personally intervened to get the correct HST coaches for this train, of which Hatherleigh has one! This will be a chance for Councillors from the area to put their case for better rail connectivity. In addition senior members of Devon County Council will be travelling with us. We hope Councillors from North Cornwall will also join us.
The train will leave at 07.10 on the Saturday 21st April giving between 5 to 7 hours in the respective destinations, arriving back in Okehampton 20.45.
Stock will be an HST with Pullman dining and buffet facilities. Online ‘air style booking’ is now available by using the links below:
Train timetable
| Out | Time |
|---|---|
| Okehampton Town | 07.10 |
| Crediton | 07.47 |
| Exeter St David’s | 08.12 |
| Oxford | 10.26 |
| Stratford-upon-Avon | 11.32 |
| Return | Time |
|---|---|
| Stratford-upon-Avon | 16.13 |
| Oxford | 17.20 |
| Exeter St Davids | 19.47 |
| Crediton | 20.05 |
| Okehampton Town | 20.45 |
A special feature of this train is the dedicated ‘community coaches’ [B & C] for Bude and Hatherleigh.
[Dr Michael Ireland - Vice Chair of OkeRail Forum]
Coach link to Okehampton
We are providing a coach link to Okehampton from Marhamchurch, Bude, Stratton, Holsworthy and Halwill. If you wish to use this service, you'll need to book the seats and pay in advance using the link below.
Coach timetable
| Location | Time | |
|---|---|---|
| Marhamchurch | Depart | 05.10 |
| Bude (Crescent car park) | Depart | 05.25 |
| Stratton (Car park) | Depart | 05.30 |
| Holsworthy (Church) | Depart | 05.45 |
| Halwill | Depart | 06.05 |
| Okehampton | Arrive | 06.40 |
| Okehampton | Board train | 06.55 |
| Okehampton | Train departs | 07.10 |
| Oxford | Arrive | 10.26 |
| Stratford-upon-Avon | Arrive | 11.32 |
| Stratford-upon-Avon | Depart | 16.13 |
| Oxford | Depart | 17.20 |
| Okehampton | Arrive | 20.45 |
| Marhamchurch | Arrive | 22.00 (approx) |