Stephen Cook<p>Most debate about rail services is focussed on urban and long distance routes, but rail also has a role in rural transport networks.</p><p>Two years ago the <a href="https://mastodonapp.uk/tags/Exeter" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Exeter</span></a> - <a href="https://mastodonapp.uk/tags/Okehampton" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Okehampton</span></a> line (<a href="https://mastodonapp.uk/tags/Devon" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Devon</span></a>, UK) reopened, and now provides an hourly 7-day service. Over half a million journeys have been made. Okehampton has become a hub for bus-rail connections and kiss-and-ride, extending the benefits of the rail service over a wide area of north Devon and Cornwall.</p><p><a href="https://mastodonapp.uk/tags/railway" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>railway</span></a> <a href="https://mastodonapp.uk/tags/integratedTransport" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>integratedTransport</span></a> <a href="https://mastodonapp.uk/tags/ruralTransport" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ruralTransport</span></a></p>