After nearly 50 years, the Dartmoor Line reopens for year-round passenger services this Saturday (20th November). It is expected to be busy so please read our guide to this exciting day: Extra train and adjusted timetable We are very pleased that interest in the new service is so high, and have adjusted train times for the day to enable an extra departure from Okehampton at 08 30. More ➔ “Opening day – your guide”
Enjoy this fantastic version of the Chattanooga Choo Choo, performed by local favourites The Hummingbirds at Okehampton station, complete with lyrics celebrating the reopening of the Dartmoor Line. The tremendous trio wowed the crowd at yesterday’s official launch of the line and will be back at the station on Saturday morning to sing the first public train in and out of Okehampton Station (see our guide to opening day train times and shuttle bus services). More ➔ “The Dartmoor Line Chattanooga Choo Choo”
There are brilliant historical-style wraps on three local newspapers this week to celebrate the reopening of the Dartmoor Line. Grab your copies of the Moorlander, Okehampton Times and Express and Echo this week – they make a great souvenir of the historic occasion! More ➔ “Historical-style newspaper wraps”
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps today dispatched the first passenger train to run on the restored Dartmoor Line, as the line once again becomes part of the UK rail network for passengers (the first public service is this Saturday – read our guide to opening day). More ➔ “Celebrating the return of the Dartmoor Line”
Local teenager Tom Watts is the winner of a Great Western Railway competition to design a logo for The Dartmoor Line, which opens a week on Saturday.The 16-year-old imagined taking part in the Ten Tors Challenge when designing the roundel, which will feature on station signs, posters, timetables and a special train livery.Year-round More ➔ “Local teenager designs winning entry in Dartmoor Line logo competition”
Artists Becky Bettesworth and Andrew Olly Oliver (co-founder of Okehampton gallery Moon & Moor) both have limited edition prints now available celebrating The Dartmoor Line’s past and future. We have been delighted to have been able to use Becky’s fantastic Dartmoor artwork to promote the reopening of the line, including on this website’s homepage. More ➔ “Limited edition prints available”
For the first time in nearly 50 years, regular passenger services will run on the Dartmoor Line, connecting Okehampton to Exeter. Services will launch on Saturday 20 November, marking 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. More ➔ “Government restores the Dartmoor Line as services resume for first time in half a century from 20 November”