Okehampton Interchange, the Dartmoor Line’s newest station, has begun serving passengers, improving connections between West Devon, Torridge and North Cornwall with Exeter and beyond. The station is expected to support 164,000 passenger journeys in its first 12 months, strengthening local access to jobs, education, healthcare and wider opportunities.
Octavius delivered this scheme as design and build Principal Contractor through Network Rail’s CP7 Wales and Western Capital Delivery framework. The project demonstrates what can be achieved when an Intelligent Client model, early contractor involvement and a genuinely integrated team are aligned around clear outcomes, efficient decision-making and value for money.
Lawrence Houghton, Framework Director, Octavius, said: “Okehampton Interchange is a strong example of the Octavius Way in action — bringing people together to create positive change, challenging traditional delivery models and working collaboratively to deliver better outcomes for customers and communities. Through Progressive Assurance, SPEED and PACE principles, the team moved from design development to Entry into Service in less than two years, making Okehampton one of the quickest new stations to be constructed and commissioned under Network Rail’s Project SPEED approach.
“Importantly, that pace was achieved without losing sight of safety, quality or value for money, and the project was completed with an outstanding safety record with zero incidents. Okehampton shows that SPEED does not have to mean shortcutting. By applying Minimum Viable Product thinking and Design to Cost from the outset, the team focused on the outcomes that mattered most — accessibility, connectivity, sustainable travel and long-term community benefit — while challenging scope, reducing waste and making sure investment was targeted where it delivered greatest value.”
The new interchange provides a step-free access platform, alongside improved walking and cycling links, sheltered cycle parking, integration with local bus routes and 200 car parking spaces, including electric vehicle charging points. Together, these improvements create a more joined-up transport hub for Okehampton and the surrounding communities, supporting regional growth and lower-carbon travel choices.
The project was delivered through close collaboration between Network Rail, Octavius, Mott MacDonald, local authority partners, GWR and the wider supply chain. This integrated approach enabled early decisions, progressive release of design packages and carefully managed overlap between assurance, procurement and delivery — helping maintain pace without compromising engineering assurance.
A key feature of the scheme was the use of Minimum Viable Product and Design to Cost principles. Rather than simply reducing scope, the team tested what was genuinely needed to meet the project outcomes, challenging assumptions and focusing investment on the elements that delivered the greatest benefit for passengers, funders and the local community. This approach supported significant efficiencies, including value engineering across track alignment, platform construction, access arrangements and preliminary costs.
Lawrence Houghton added: “Okehampton played to Octavius’ strengths across rail, highways, active travel and integrated infrastructure. The success of the project came from people working together with a shared purpose — client, designer, contractor, supply chain and stakeholders all focused on delivering the right outcome. It is a lasting asset for the region and a clear demonstration of how collaborative delivery can unlock speed, certainty and value.”
The project was funded primarily by Government, with contributions from Devon County Council, West Devon Borough Council and Network Rail. The new station will support continued growth on the Dartmoor Line, which had already exceeded expectations with 775,000 journeys by its third anniversary in 2024.
As well as improving local transport choices, Okehampton Interchange supports wider regional development, including 400 new homes planned, permitted or already built in the station’s vicinity. The scheme provides a platform for sustainable growth, better connectivity and improved access to opportunities across the region.
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