Officials have hailed a year of progress on a new UK railway station. Okehampton Interchange is due to open in the summer thanks to £15million of funding - £13.4million from the Government, £1.4million Devon County Council, £120,000 from West Devon Borough Council and £25,000 from Network Rail. The latter said in an update: "It's been a year of progress in Devon where we've been building the new Okehampton Interchange station.

"Trains will start arriving in early summer, to welcome even more people from West Devon and North Cornwall onto the railway to Exeter." Bosses added that work is ongoing to complete the station platform and 200-space car park off Higher Stockley Mead. The station forecourt and bus interchange on Hameldown Road will then be built, they added.

The interchange represents the next step for the Dartmoor Line - a railway running from Crediton to Okehampton that was reopened in 2021 for daily passenger services to Exeter for the first time in nearly 50 years.

The new station will complement the existing Okehampton station, which will remain open. Network Rail said: "Just two minutes from the A30, the new station will serve the growing east side of Okehampton and help more people travel sustainably.

"It will reduce traffic through the town centre and on Station Road and relieve pressure on the existing station's car park.

"The station will have cycle parking and electric car charging points. Walking and cycling routes will be enhanced and buses will call at the station."

In September, bosses reported that the station's lift shaft, 25-metre-long footbridge, and staircase were lifted into place over three midweek nights using a 350-tonne crane.

107 coping stones were laid to support the 100-metre platform.

But some want the project to go further.

Christopher Anton wrote on X: "It would make much more sense if it then continued onto Plymouth."

@cliffordbeeton concurred, writing: "Just needs completing to Plymouth via Tavistock....."

Others were more satisfied.

Oliver Evans wrote: "Fantastic progress! More stations mean fewer cars on the road. Can't wait to ride this line!"

David Lintonbon wrote: "Looking forward to the opening!!!"