and even the line s closure in 1972, part of the beeching cuts, was marked with some ceremony. today, the festivities continue as scheduled passenger services return, in the world for years of campaigning. back in the summer, we filmed the new tracks being laid. fantastic. this is the moment, isn t it, really, when the track gets put down, the new track and it is going to be shortly, hopefully, a trained exeter. how long have you been working on this? well, i arrived on okehampton in 1805 and ice of it well, i arrived on okehampton in 1975 and i saw it going largely derelict then and that was when i first became interested in it. the line is the very first to be open as part of the government s restoring your railway scheme but this week we have seen controversy and anger elsewhere with the scrapping of the hs2 link to leeds and the northern powerhouse line between leeds and manchester. the restoration of the dartmoor line was made easier by the fact that
to leeds and the northern powerhouse line between leeds and manchester. the restoration of the dartmoor line was made easier by the fact that after closing to passenger services it continued to be used for transporting railway ballast from a nearby quarry. it also ran as a heritage railway but now it s been upgraded. it s not as easy as you think. it hasn t been in good condition, - but there is a huge amount of work. we ve done 11 miles of track - installation in the last four weeks. it s actually been one of the fastest track installations in network rail history. well, this is the new track construction machine. it s an impressive piece of kit, around a quarter of a mile long. you can see what s happening. the grey pod at the top runs back, grabs the sleepers, brings them to the front of the train and then lays them in a perfectly straight line on the bed with the two metal tracks on top. it will run at a rate of around 400 metres per hour.
then and that was when i first became interested in it. the line is the very first to be open as part of the government s restoring your railway scheme but this week we have seen controversy and anger elsewhere with the scrapping of the hs2 link to leeds and the northern powerhouse line between leeds and manchester. the restoration of the dartmoor line was made easier by the fact that after closing to passenger services it continued to be used in transporting railway ballast from a nearby quarry. it also ran as a heritage railway but now it has been upgraded. it is not as easy as you think. it hasn t been in good condition- but there is a huge amount of work. we have done 11 miles of track. insulation in the past four weeks. it has actually been one - of the fastest track installations in network rail history. this is the new track construction machine, an impressive piece of kit, around a quarter a mile long. you can see what is happening is a grade on top one is back, grab the sleepe
have you been campaigning and working on this? well, i arrived in okehampton in 1975 and i saw it going gradually derelict then, so that was when i really first became interested in it. the line is the very first to reopen as part of the government s restoring your railways scheme, but this week has seen controversy and anger elsewhere with the scrapping of the hs2 link to leeds and the northern powerhouse line between leeds and manchester. the restoration of the dartmoor line was made easier by the fact that after closing to passenger services it continued to be used for transporting railway ballast from a nearby quarry. it also ran as a heritage railway but now it s been upgraded. it s not as easy as you think. it hasn t been in good condition, - but there is a huge amount of work. we ve done 11 miles of track - installation in the last four weeks.
passenger service returns a reward for years of campaigning. back in the summer, we filmed the new tracks being laid. fantastic. this is the moment, isn t it, really, when the track gets put down, the new track, and it ll be shortly, hopefully, a train to exeter. just remind me, how long have you been campaigning and working on this? well, i arrived in 0kehampton in 1975 and i saw it going gradually derelict then, so that was when i first became interested in it. the line is the very first to reopen as part of the government s restoring your railway scheme but this week, it s seen controversy and anger elsewhere with the scrapping of the h52 link to leeds and the northern powerhouse line between leeds and manchester. the restoration of the dartmoor line was made easier by the fact that after closing to passenger services,