Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made in developing the rail service between Okehampton and Exeter St Davids; and when regular train services are expected to start.

Great Western Railway (GWR) is developing proposals for both a trial service and a longer term strategy for reinstatement of regular train services between Okehampton and Exeter. The reopening of this route to regular train services was included in the list of potential schemes by the Secretary of State on 29 November 2017 in Connecting People: a Strategic Vision for Rail. GWR is bringing together relevant stakeholders, Network Rail maintenance expertise and specialist consultants to produce a review of the infrastructure condition and a costed maintenance programme. The date for the introduction of regular train services will therefore depend on the outcome of that work.