For years, our national parks have been hijacked by motorists. Their noise, intrusion and pollution has damaged these recreational lungs and in some areas the parks have been used as unofficial race tracks and narrow country lanes as short cuts for selfish car and lorry drivers.
Now attempts are being made to redress the balance and to give cyclists and walkers who choose to use public transport — and cause little environmental damage — a chance to gain easier access to the parks.
Dartmoor is setting a good example with a £5 Sunday rover ticket valid on buses and trains including the Exeter-Okehampton line which reopens on summer Sundays.
The line would be more valuable if it was reopened all the way to Plymouth and if trains ran during the week as well. But at least it is a start. And the lessons should be learned in other national parks. A leaflet gives 16 pages of timetable and other public transport information. Copies should be available from tourist information offices and bus stations in the area or from 01822 890414.
You can email Railwatch editor Ray King at editor@railwatch.org.uk (or just click on this link), e-mail Deltic Design with comments about the Railwatch Web pages, or visit their web site.
RiscPC