FORMER Okehampton mayor Julie Yelland has described a scheme to build a second station in the town as absolutely essential with just over a week to go before the reopening of the ’old’ one.

The West Devon town gets its railway back on November 20, when the first train for nearly half a century pulls out of Okehampton station, which closed in 1972, for Exeter.

Rail officials believe the first day of the restored line is likely to be busy, with ticket sales reportedly high, but residents fear that could lead to massive traffic problems on Station Road as passengers flock to use the new service.

A second, or Parkway, station is planned for the east of the growing town and is awaiting confirmation of Government funding, although rail chiefs think it would take up to three years to build if it was given the green light now.

The new station would help divert traffic away from the town centre and make rail journeys more accessible from areas such as Tavistock and surrounding areas via the A30 and North Cornwall.

Cllr Yelland, a town and West Devon Borough councillor, said she was thrilled that the service was coming back to Okehampton.

The councillor, who represents the borough council on railway campaigning group Okerail, said: ’With a regular two hourly service that will soon become hourly it will be so much easier to travel to and from Okehampton without relying on a car.

’Together with the start of the train service, I understand there will be a new bus service as well that will pick up and drop off from the outskirts of the town and not only fit in with the rail timetable but will include the primary schools and the town centre on its route which should serve to reduce the traffic congestion in the town.’

She added: ’I fully appreciate the concerns of the residents of Station Road who are, understandably, worried about the impact the extra traffic will have and am pleased to see that Devon County Council have put in three stretches of double yellow lines that will secure passing places to assist with traffic flow.

’People can also park all day in Mill Road for a very reasonable fee and catch the bus up to the station. It is absolutely essential that we continue to work with Devon County Council and other stakeholders to access funding that will enable the new Parkway Station on the eastern edge of town to be built out as soon as possible as, ultimately, that is what will be needed to reduce the traffic coming through the town.

’The re-opening of the railway will make Okehampton a much more accessible place to visit while giving easy access to Dartmoor and the town centre for shopping or leisure activities.

’It will also enable people to travel further afield and help keep cars off the road which will, in turn, improve air quality. I am very grateful to everyone who has worked so hard to make this happen - it is a real good news story.’

Cllr Yelland’s comments came as a new bus service was announced for Tavistock to connect residents with the new rail service at Okehampton.

The Devon County Council-backed service, being run by Exeter-based Dartline Coaches, kicks off on the same day as the restored rail line, with buses leaving Tavistock as early as 6.20am to connect with the first train leaving Okehampton for Exeter.

County councillors are meanwhile pushing ahead with plans to restore the Bere Alston to Tavistock section of the line, which was closed in 1968.

The county council was successful in obtaining £50,000 in Government funding in the recent Budget which will go towards preparing a business case for the line’s reopening.