UK: Okehampton Interchange Begins to Take Shape

The construction of the Okehampton Interchange railway station has reached a new milestone with the installation of a lift shaft, footbridge span and staircase.

Valued at 15 million GBP, the town’s second station has been made possible due to funding obtained from bids made by Devon County Council and West Devon Borough Council, as well as contributions from both authorities.

A 350-tonne crane was used to move the lift shaft, four staircase support columns and three sections of the staircase itself into place over the course of three midweek nights before the 25-metre long footbridge was lifted into place six metres above the railway.

The bridge will allow access from the yet-to-be-built 200-space car park to the station’s single platform.

Network Rail industry Programme Director Bogdan Lupu said:

Our plans are now coming to life and the footbridge platform structure is now in place, marking a major milestone in the project’s progress.

Everyone can now see it really coming together and our work continues to get passengers onto the platform as soon as possible.

The new station, which is being built by Network Rail and contractor Octavius, is planned to open in summer 2026, becoming the latest addition to the Dartmoor Line, which was first re-opened in November 2021 and has seen more than 550,000 passengers utilise its services since re-introduction.

Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy said:

The progress of the station is fantastic news for our community. This milestone brings us closer to a station that will not only benefit residents but also provide a significant boost to local businesses by improving access for customers, staff and suppliers. These better transport links will help attract investment, support tourism and make it easier for businesses to grow and thrive.

We’re especially pleased with the strong partnership between Network Rail, Great Western Railway and Devon County Council, along with other key stakeholders, which is helping to deliver real improvements in local transport infrastructure.