hereforbeer

Mrs Beer and I on Monday caught the 10:51 from Crediton; two carriage 150 unit that had about 40 passengers - most looked like they were off walking. We were the only ones who took the bus down into town, the driver was pessimistic about the bus service continuing or what passengers there would be for an hourly train service as after the first weekend there had been few passengers. We exhausted the delights of Okehampton pretty quickly and retired to the White Hart Hotel (now a Wetherspoons). Then caught the 13:06 bus back up the hill, this time joined by a local who had been shopping. The 13:26 back had again about 40 passengers, not many obvious walkers and a good number of student age, so maybe there is hope of non tourist traffic. I would say that on these two trains the number of passengers was about what we see on the equivalent timings to/from Barnsatple. Work is going on on the main station building with nothing currently open. There is a sign for "footbridge to plaforms 1 and 2 " and a banner on platform 1 fence saying "join us, reopen to Bude". In the summer when there are leaves on the trees most of the trip from Colebrook Junction on will be like being in a green tunnel. Also noticeable than from Coleford Junction to Crediton speed is slow as the track hasn't been renewed, but seems better riding than he unrenewed sections of track to Barnstaple. My thanks to all the well informed posters on here about this line and about Dawlish matters.