From Adrian Lane, Exeter 383262, May 09,2008

DEVON County Council has stepped in to retain the popular Summer Sunday Trains from Exeter to Okehampton.

Following the announcement of the sale of Dartmoor Railway by Ealing Community Transport, the County Council has stepped in to secure the Summer Sundays train service. The Council will ensure continuation of the train service which has operated each season since 1997 as part of the Dartmoor Sunday Rover network of buses and trains.

First Great Western is being contracted to provide five return trips each Sunday this summer between Exeter, Crediton and Okehampton. Dartmoor Railway will provide the safety cover for the operation and will manage Okehampton station each Sunday as in previous years.

Councillor Margaret Rogers, Devon County Council Executive Member for Environment, said: "This saves this popular service for this summer which is great news for everyone who enjoys using the Sunday trains. It is already a very popular service and hopefully more people will be tempted to come along and show their support. Unfortunately, the buffet and model shop at Okehampton Station and the buffet and visitor centre at Meldon are closed at present and the Dartmoor Pony train is not running this season. Other than that it will be business as usual and The Friends of Dartmoor Railway are hoping to arrange some catering. In spite of reduced ancillary services while the service is restarted the Sunday Train will enable lovers of Dartmoor as well as those who don't yet know to get access this wonderful National Park."

The Dartmoor Sunday Rover commences this year on Sunday 25 May and runs until Sunday 21 September. Connecting with the train at Okehampton are buses for Tavistock and Gunnislake, from where the Tamar Valley line trains run to Bere Alston and Plymouth. Bus service 82 across the centre of the Moor completes the Grand Tour back to Exeter.

The Sunday Rover Ticket will be available at the same price as last year, £6 adult and £16 for a family of up to five people, and this provides bus and rail trips all over Dartmoor and on buses further afield. Single and day return tickets are also available.

A leaflet giving full details of fares and times for the trains and buses will be available soon from bus stations, main railway stations and Tourist information Centres. Bus and train times are available from Traveline on 08457 200 22 33.

Notes for Editors:

Councillor Margaret Rogers, 01297 680384.