Local MP takes part in railway heritage project

LOCAL MP, Mel Stride, sat down with Crediton-based Folklore Library & Archive this week to discuss his involvement in the reinstatement of the Dartmoor Line, which recently celebrated its third birthday.

The Folklore Library & Archive was recently awarded a grant from GWR’s Customer and
Community Improvement initiative to undertake a project focusing on the reinstated Exeter-Okehampton branch line.

Mr Stride played a pivotal role in the reinstatement of the Dartmoor Line, having
campaigned alongside OkeRail and other local activists for over a decade to reinstate the
service.

As a result of his successful campaign, the line was the first to be reinstated under the
Restoring Your Railway scheme.

Mel Stride, MP for Central Devon and Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, said: “When the Government announced its £500 million ‘Restoring Your Railway Fund’ in 2020 as part of the Levelling Up initiative, I was determined to ensure that Central Devon benefitted. 

“Reconnecting local communities was a key promise in our 2019 manifesto and something I campaigned strongly for.

“Rail links are the lifelines of rural communities, connecting people to opportunities,
resources, and each other. They bridge distances, drive economic growth, and ensure that
no place is too remote to thrive.

“The opening of the new Okehampton Interchange station in Spring 2026 maximise the
benefits of reinstating the line – which has already seen 775,000 journeys made since its
reopening.”

Tracey Norman, Project Manager of the Devon Railway Heritage Project, said: “The Folklore Library & Archive's Devon Railway Heritage project aims to capture as many voices as possible, each providing insight into working on, and interacting with, the railway.

“We are delighted that the funding we received from Great Western Railways is enabling us to speak with people like Mel, in order to preserve memories and experiences which have combined into a unique and fascinating archive, which we're proud to be launching in Crediton on 22nd March 2025 as part of the Railway200 celebrations. We're extremely
grateful to Mel for sharing his time and his insights with us."

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