Great Western Coffee Shop

The line between #ExeterStDavids and #NewtonAbbot is expected to be closed from the start of service until approximately 1200 tomorrow. Network Rail has advised that Dawlish sea wall will not be passable until the line is fully inspected.

Beat me to it.

The line is closing to all trains tomorrow at high tide. About 9.15am. the winds though are Westerly when it's the Easterlies that cause the trouble. BBC Spotlight news.

The line is closing to all trains tomorrow at high tide. About 9.15am. the winds though are Westerly when it's the Easterlies that cause the trouble. BBC Spotlight news.

...just come back a bit quicker

One of these perhaps:
(http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bignosemac/x876cJz_zpsvm8nuvg8.jpg)

Could this be the start of "political" closures?
Network Rail using the slightest of warnings to close the line in an effort to get things moving on an alternative route, after all it has gone rather quiet on that issue...

Met office yellow warnings seem to be of little relevance outside of the railway.
A yellow warning in effect means "expect seasonal weather"  and "expect disruption to rail services" whilst most of the non railway world carries on near normally during seasonal weather.

Fair weather only railway.

Amber and red warnings are of more relevance and can portend serious conditions.

(http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bignosemac/IMG_20181107_070800_zpssjviucpq.png)

Could this be the start of "political" closures?
Network Rail using the slightest of warnings to close the line in an effort to get things moving on an alternative route, after all it has gone rather quiet on that issue...

Looking quite pleasant there now, even some hazy sunshine and people walking along the wall. If the line doesn't open for another 2-3 hours that will be disgraceful.

The timing of that looks odd - no start given but disruption until 20:30. The Met Office yellow warning for wind and rain for the South West, which was issued for late tonight until the middle of tomorrow, is now timed for "Between 13:00 Fri 9th and 23:59 Fri 9th". The wind is forecast to peak above 38 mph from the south at about 17:00 and high tide is at 19:12.

The timing of that looks odd - no start given but disruption until 20:30. The Met Office yellow warning for wind and rain for the South West, which was issued for late tonight until the middle of tomorrow, is now timed for "Between 13:00 Fri 9th and 23:59 Fri 9th". The wind is forecast to peak above 38 mph from the south at about 17:00 and high tide is at 19:12.

Is this now what we have to expect on the railway in this area every time anything approaching winter weather looks likely?

Perhaps the leasing agreement with Hitachi for the IETs includes something about not exposing their new trains to salt water?

GWR stating the line could close.

Travel Update - 09 November 2018

Sever weather predicted for this evening (Friday 09th November).

Current weather forecasts suggest a combination of high winds and a higher than normal tide are likely in the Dawlish area between 1830 and 1930 at the earliest tomorrow, which could affect train services between Newton Abbot and Exeter.

While it is possible this forecast could change, we would encourage customers planning to travel through the area this evening to travel earlier if possible. Customers with reservations for a particular train will be able to travel on trains earlier the day.

We would expect trains to run outside this area to continue to run and rail replacement bus services will operate between intermediate stations. Journey times are expected to be extended by up to an hour, depending on road conditions.

Network Rail will be monitoring weather conditions carefully throughout tomorrow, and we will let customers know if the situation changes.

 

Please travel early

GWR plan to continue to operate trains between London Paddington and Exeter St Davids, and between Newton Abbot, Plymouth and Penzance, however services may be cancelled at short notice or delayed, depending on conditions on the ground. Customers should check before they travel for the very latest information.

The anticipated heavy rain and high winds may also impact the rail services that GWR is able to operate, potentially leading to longer journey times and further short notice cancellations.

Those with tickets to travel on Friday 09 November will be able to use their tickets to travel on Saturday 10 November; customers with pre-purchased Advance and Off-Peak, and Super Off- Peak tickets will be able to travel on earlier services, and customers who choose not to travel will be entitled to a refund.

GWR tickets will also be valid on a host of other transport providers, including local buses and alternative train routes. Further details below.

Strong winds and high tides mean the line between Exeter and Newton Abbott may need to be closed to ensure passenger safety. Once the poor weather passes Network Rail engineers will inspect the railway before opening the line as soon as it is safe to do so.

Train services between London Paddington, Plymouth and Penzance

GWR expects to be able to operate train services between London Paddington and Exeter St Davids.


GWR expects to be able to operate train services between Newton Abbot, Plymouth and Penzance.

Train services between Paignton and Exmouth

GWR expects to be able to operate a train service between Paignton and Newton Abbot.
GWR expects to be able to operate a train service between Exeter St Davids and Exmouth.

Where you can use your ticket

 You can use your ticket on both GWR and CrossCountry train services for travel between Bristol Temple Meads, Taunton, Exeter St Davids and Penzance in both directions.
You can use your ticket on South Western Railway train services between Exeter St David’s and London Waterloo.
You can use your ticket on London Underground for travel from London Waterloo to London Paddington, however, industrial action is planned on the Central, Waterloo &City and Piccadilly lines on Wednesday 07th November with a very limited service. Please check the Transport for London (TfL) website before travel.
You can use your ticket on local bus services with First Kernow on the following routes:
First Kernow route 21: St Austell (Station) - St Columb Road (Glen View) - Quintrell Downs (Quintrell Stores) - Newquay,
First Kernow route 25: St Austell (Station) - Par (Station), First Kernow route 27: Truro (Bus Station) - St Austell (Station) - Bugle (The Square) - Roche - Bodmin, First Kernow route 87: Truro (Station) - Newquay (Bus Station)
First Kernow route T1: Penzance (Station) - St Erth (Station) - Hayle - Camborne (Bus Station) - Redruth (Station) - Truro,
First Kernow routes 90, 92, 93: Truro (Bus Station) - St Columb Road (Glen View) - Quintrell Downs (Quintrell Stores) - Newquay,
First Kernow route T2: St Ives (Bus Station) - Carbis Bay - Lelant - Hayle - Camborne (Bus Station) - Redruth (Station) - Truro
You can use your ticket on local bus services with Stagecoach South West on the following routes:
Stagecoach bus route X38: Exeter (Bus Station) - Ivybridge - Plymouth (Bus Station),
Stagecoach bus route X64: Exeter (Bus Station) – Newton Abbot (Sherborne Road) – Totnes (Royal Seven Stars),
Stagecoach bus route 22: Dawlish Warren - Dawlish (The Green) - Teignmouth - Torquay (Strand) - Paignton (Bus Station),
Stagecoach bus route 155: Exeter (Bus Station) - Tiverton (Bus Station) - Barnstaple (Bus Station), Stagecoach bus route 12: Newton Abbot (Station) - Torre (Station) - Torquay (Grand Hotel) - Paignton (Bus Station),
Stagecoach bus route 2: Newton Abbot (Sherborne Rd) - Teignmouth - Dawlish (Green) - Starcross (Station) - Exeter (Bus Station).
Stagecoach GOLD bus route: Torquay (Grand Hotel) - Paignton - Totnes (Station) - Ivybridge - Plymouth (Royal Parade).
 
Compensation:
If your train service was delayed or cancelled, you could be entitled to a refund or compensation, please check our Refunds and Compensation page for more information.

Think the topic title needs amending as well, as this looks like its going to possibly continue for a couple of weeks.

Thought 2. The roads seem perfectly able to stay open even when the trains are not running.  One of the situations under which road replacement is NOT provided is if there are similar (weather, etc) issues with the roads that there are with rail.  But I note that although the weather is closing the railway at times at Dawlish, it is not closing the alternative roads.

Thought 2. The roads seem perfectly able to stay open even when the trains are not running.  One of the situations under which road replacement is NOT provided is if there are similar (weather, etc) issues with the roads that there are with rail.  But I note that although the weather is closing the railway at times at Dawlish, it is not closing the alternative roads.

Severe weather is predicted this evening near Dawlish and the line between Exeter and Newton Abbot will be closed from 18:30 until at least 19:30. Please travel early if possible, affected tickets for today will be valid on earlier trains or tomorrow 10 November.

The severe weather predicted this evening between 18:30 and 19:30 will mean fewer lines are available to use but trains will run through Dawlish at a reduced speed. Please travel as early as possible, your ticket can be used earlier or tomorrow.

The storm conditions are in advance of forecast, the winds should subside slightly and veer southerly from sou-easterly before high tide which is due at around 1900. The threat is therefore diminished.

Great Western Railway    Minor delays on some routes

....and if you're stuck in flood water trying to get to the station, that will be the railway's fault or can you claim for delay from the highways agency?

....and if you're stuck in flood water trying to get to the station, that will be the railway's fault or can you claim for delay from the highways agency?

https://www.piratefm.co.uk/news/latest-news/2733702/breaking-flooding-blocks-a38-in-cornwall/

Do you pay the Highways Agency for your journey at point of use?

Do you pay the Highways Agency for your journey at point of use?

Through the "tax disc", fuel duty (58p per litre) and vat on that,  yes
...and there isn't another way to Bodmin Parkway (Umb)

National Express coach to Totnes just passed me here in Exeter, bet they are feeling smug (if not a little tired from the long, slow haul...)

Both Up and Down sleeper services cancelled.

What happens to the sleeper passengers in these circumstances? Do GWR arrange road transport or do they put them in hotels overnight? (Or are they just abandoned and left to their own devices?)

Cancellations to services between Newton Abbot and Exeter St Davids

Due to forecasted severe weather between Newton Abbot and Exeter St Davids all lines are blocked.

Train services running through these stations will be cancelled, delayed by up to 90 minutes or revised. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.

Customer Advice

Due to severe weather along the Dawlish sea wall we are no longer able to run trains between Exeter St Davids and Newton Abbot. GWR are advising customer NOT TO TRAVEL at this time as the railway will not be reopened until tomorrow morning.

Replacement road transport is limited and due to the weather not guaranteed to serve all of the stations required.
GWR tickets will be valid on services tomorrow.

What happens to the sleeper passengers in these circumstances? Do GWR arrange road transport or do they put them in hotels overnight? (Or are they just abandoned and left to their own devices?)

Through the "tax disc", fuel duty (58p per litre) and vat on that,  yes

Flooding closes railway line at Dawlish sea wall

A railway line has been closed after high tides washed over a sea wall in Devon and flooded the track.

Network Rail has advised train operators Crosscountry and Great Western Railway the sea wall at Dawlish will not be passable for the rest of the day.

Train services are not operating between Newton Abbot and Exeter St Davids.

A 50mph speed restriction is also in place between Taunton and Plymouth.

Crosscountry said it had been advised services could not resume "until sea levels reduce and the railway line can be inspected".

In 2014 storms caused a section of the Dawlish sea wall to collapse, leaving the rail track to Cornwall suspended in mid-air.

And in October flooding opened a 6ft hole under the line, halting services through Devon and Cornwall.

Great Western Railway and Crosscountry are accepting each others tickets on their rail and bus replacement services for the rest of the day at no extra charge.

The 21.03 to Plymouth finally left Paddington at 22.20 and was the last service out of Paddington to Taunton and beyond. It is however terminating at Exeter, so not much use to most Sleeper passengers.

So I guess a hotel in London or Reading? I know that GWR ask passengers with berths booked for their mobile numbers and I further believe they are all contacted. But who pays for the hotel?

The myth that an alternative to Dawlish would result in the existing line being closed needs to be firmly quashed, as I see its reared its head again on social media. To my mind, its unthinkable that the towns and Bay resorts wouldn’t warrant a rail service, even if rationalised somewhat. And lets be honest, few High Speed service stop at Dawlish and Teignm outhitting or run through to Paignton anyway

I think the problem is; would they be so quick to repair any breach?

The plan I saw at Dawlish was to extend the sea wall further into the sea, but this only gives the sea something to smash at. I would put the track on stilts in the sea and the tide could pass underneath, would also remove the tunnels and leave the beaches relatively untouched.

I also think this will also have to be done on the Exe estuary.

Several passengers who arrived for the sleeper were booked into the Hilton at Paddington by GWR, and others were provided with road transport - only right and proper.


Earlier in the day customers were being assured that the sleeper would run, it was only much later that this changed and people were told not to travel, so offering them a bed for the night on a bench at Paddington or Reading wouldn't really have been an option...........if you see a taxi driver ordering an Aston Martin you will know where the money came from!

I think the problem is; would they be so quick to repair any breach?

The plan I saw at Dawlish was to extend the sea wall further into the sea, but this only gives the sea something to smash at. I would put the track on stilts in the sea and the tide could pass underneath, would also remove the tunnels and leave the beaches relatively untouched.

I also think this will also have to be done on the Exe estuary.

A better option might be a breakwater along the affected stretch reducing the power of the waves before they got to land.

A better option might be a breakwater along the affected stretch reducing the power of the waves before they got to land.

DfT need to look at the GWR 1935 plan for an inland route. As I see it from Google maps a line could be constructed from a location near Powderham Castle and Estate to rejoin the current line to the east of the Devon Expressway for the run into Newton Abbot. From the satellite image such a route would mainly be through agricultural land. The current route would be retained for local services and Summer Saturdays holiday traffic and if weather closes the line in future local services could still be run Exeter - Dawlish Warren and Newton Abbot - Teignmouth with RRB between Dawlish Warren and Teignmouth.

When was it closed?
Winter 1846 – 3 days

Winter 1852/53 – 2 blockages of 7 and 3 days respectively)

Feb 1855 – blockage of 12 days continuously (longest in period 1846 – 1986)

Oct 1859 – blockage for 3 days

Jan – Feb 1869 – blockage for 5 days

Winter 1872/73 – 4 blockages of 1 day, 3 days, 3 days and 1 day respectively

Nov 1908 – damage to walkway only

March 1923 – blockage of 3 days

Jan 1930 – blockage of 5 days

Feb 1936 – blockage of 3 days

March 1962 – ballast wash outs, services suspended for several hours, then Single Line Working (SLW) was instituted over the Up line

February 1974 – major damage to down platform at Dawlish station, line completely closed for 2 hours, then up line reopened

Feb/March 1986 – blocked 26/02/86 to 03/3/86 – serious damage to wall at Smugglers Cove. The Up line (eastbound) was still useable for engineers trains (and a few freight services on 1 March only). SLW commenced on 03/3/86 with the Down Main Line (Westbound) remaining shut until reopened on 11/3/86

In the last 20 years, January 1996 saw a major incident when the wall was damaged between Dawlish and Dawlish Warren at Rockstone with further severe damage at Sprey Point. Here, the down line (nearest the sea) was suspended over a washed out void, which reached to sleeper ends of Up line. Both lines closed several days were closed for about a week.

The Winter of 2000/2001 following prolonged heavy rain, saw many cliff falls and again Sprey Point featured with a big fall with the line closed for a few days and some more damage to the sea wall. Railtrack then Network Rail then carried out some major cliff stabilisation work in the mid-2000s at a cost of around £15 million.

DfT need to look at the GWR 1935 plan for an inland route. As I see it from Google maps a line could be constructed from a location near Powderham Castle and Estate to rejoin the current line to the east of the Devon Expressway for the run into Newton Abbot. From the satellite image such a route would mainly be through agricultural land. The current route would be retained for local services and Summer Saturdays holiday traffic and if weather closes the line in future local services could still be run Exeter - Dawlish Warren and Newton Abbot - Teignmouth with RRB between Dawlish Warren and Teignmouth.

The issue is that the Dawlish route is fine 95% or so of the year and it would be terrible if services not calling at the intermediate stations were routed inland via a new route while it is still possible to run via the sea wall.  There is a thought that an inland route would be quicker - which it would - but how much time can you realistically save on a journey that currently takes 17 mins (EXD - NTA)?  Three minutes?

If you don't use the inland route all the time, it becomes a very expensive insurance policy with not much purpose when Dawlish is OK except to create more capacity for freight.

For me, we need a funded long term solution for Dawlish keeping it the main line for as long as possible (which could be 100 years or more) while also providing an additional diversionary route for as much of the traffic as possible when Dawlish can't be used.  This additional route needs to have its own year-round useful traffic.  That points to Okehampton, a valuable route in its own right and providing a second route for Plymouth and Cornwall.  The first bit of what I have written above is of course NR's strategy - the second bit of course isn't.

That maybe okay for someone like yourself living in the far west.

Would you feel the same, if you lived in Torbay, having to use rail replacement buses, or not being able to travel at all because alternative transport isn't available, whenever the sea wall route is disrupted?

Bear in mind just how poorly planned and implemented the rail replacement bus service is currently in Bristol. And that's in a large city, and where the disruption was long term planned for.

"The DAL would be used for long distance services from London and the North, keeping the same calling patterns as they do now."

"No need then for long distance services to reverse at Exeter, go on a long detour across north and west Devon, then reverse again at Plymouth to continue to Cornwall. 40+ minutes added to the journey."

I think there would be a very big  outcry once people realised that a DAL would mean the end of their main line trains running via the sea wall whatever the conditions at Dawlish. 

Why? The view? Half the passenger aboard look at cliffs. And I'm sure folk would rather they had a train to their destination all the time, rather than a nice view in fair weather, and a bus during disruption. The vast majority of passengers are travelling for a reason other than the view out the window.

Once again, I'll reiterate, I'm not against the LSWR reopening to provide rail services to parts of North and West Devon. I'm just against promoting it as a diversionary route.

I'm somewhat surprised that the rose tinted brigade seem happy to sacrifice rail access for upwards of 400,000 people during disruption just so they can once again trundle serenely around the northern edge of Dartmoor.

Obviously I can't say, because I don't live in Torbay.  However I can't imagine people there would want trains diverted away from the sea wall route when things are running normally and the line is available for traffic (as it is 95% or so of the time). 

If it came to it, once the sea wall improvements are fully funded, and the Government did agree to also fund a diversionary route as belt and braces for those few days it is needed (which, of course, are still too many), there would be a discussion about whether a new main line or a route which would also put a lot of people back on the rail network would be the best thing to spend the money on.

The issue is that the Dawlish route is fine 95% or so of the year

For me that pretty much nails it - not because I agree with doing nothing, but I've seen a figure of £450,000,000+ quoted elsewhere for the avoiding route - let's say a round half billion (allowing for the inevitable overspend, this is a railway project, remember?) for something which is needed, at worst, for a few days a year in a really bad year, and is a "nice to have" for the rest of the time - try justifying that to other areas of the Country who are crying out for essential investment - as  I say, I don't disagree with the concept, but a bit of real world/cost/benefit may need to come into it?

One extra consideration is that Dawlish & Teignmouth still require a protection from the sea so the seawall will have to be maintained, whether there is a railway there or not.

Guess the Government would rather that expense continue to fall on the railway (funded from passengers) rather than the taxpayers and avoiding the hassles involved when repairs and flooding occurs.

Torbay just want a train to get them to Exeter on the quickest route.

The South Devon Highway has made Torbay a commuter town for Exeter with thousands of homes built round the ring road and Edginswell near the planned Devon Metro station (no money to build it). The Devon Metro seems to have been put back, maybe until Exeter Depot (under construction) has been enlarged. No 158's yet but more 150/2's seem to have arrived. The train is slower than the car but difficult parking in Exeter makes the train viable.

Torbay is a misundrstood area. It is not full of retirees. It has the largest primary school in Devon at Oldway (700 pupils); Boys Grammar School, Girls Grammar school, and a mixed Grammar school. The continually expanding South Devon college with branches in Newton Abbot and Kingswear and links to Plymouth University. This has made the area attractive to families.


There are high tech companies (old employees of Nortel going it alone). The college, only half the site built, is building a new high tech centre as is the council constructing a high tech building (known as EPIC)  with up to 16 laboraties for small companies.

On the Nortel site is a Range store and a M&S food hall, and three other units,  under construction with free car parking and 300 hundred homes earmarked on the old Nortel car parks. Nortel used to employee 5000 people and when it closed it killed Paignton.

Unfortunately in the town centres the luddites have the upper hand and they are very run down.

In actual fact, Oldway Prmary School holds 624 ( capacity) and there are further schools apart from the Grammer Schools mentioned as in Paignton Lower School ( Borough Road ), Paignton Upper School ( Waterleat Road).These were classed as schools when I attended and not colleges etc.It was a big blow when Nortel closed with the loss of 5000 jobs, but there other sites that have closed down as well ( St.Ivel Factory in Yalberton Road opposite Sainsburys) with a loss of 400 jobs including mine and is now operated by Dainton Storage Hire.The town centre is nearly like a "ghost town" with shops closing down and especially with Crossways.

In actual fact, Oldway Prmary School holds 624 ( capacity) and there are further schools apart from the Grammer Schools mentioned as in Paignton Lower School ( Borough Road ), Paignton Upper School ( Waterleat Road).These were classed as schools when I attended and not colleges etc.It was a big blow when Nortel closed with the loss of 5000 jobs, but there other sites that have closed down as well ( St.Ivel Factory in Yalberton Road opposite Sainsburys) with a loss of 400 jobs including mine and is now operated by Dainton Storage Hire.The town centre is nearly like a "ghost town" with shops closing down and especially with Crossways.

Major announcement about the future of the Dawlish rail line made by Network Rail to councillors

Network Rail has a programme of improvements to protect the line between Exeter and Newton Abbot to improve resilience over the next century

The re-routing of the Dawlish rail line closer to the sea will NOT see a popular beach lost to the public.

Network Rail has a programme of improvements to protect the line between Exeter and Newton Abbot to improve resilience over the next century.

The causeway option would see the line rebuild from the tunnel at Smugglers’ Lane in Holcombe, out on to the beach past Spray Point, and then would curve back in land towards Teignmouth.

The option could cost up to £500million but no funding has yet been pledged for the work or a timeframe put in place.
(https://i2-prod.devonlive.com/incoming/article2225054.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_be5a2a81-fd45-4695-a7ce-b2d98e8508f1.jpg)
Holcombe Beach (Image: Daniel Clark)

But at Thursday morning’s Teignbridge Locality Committee meeting, David Lovell, Network Rail Programme Manager for the Western and Wales region revealed that although the line is still set to be realigned, it won’t move as far away from the cliffs and across the beach as initially planned.

Mr Lovell said: “Our designer is currently development the track alignment to reduce reclamation and are continuing to work up options based on extensive investigations. We are proposing a design that will be similar to a rockfall shelter and will reduce the impact on the beach. The issue is that we have is that we cannot physically present what it will look like at the moment.”

Asked by Cllr Sylvia Russell if that meant Network Rail would no longer be realigning the line, he replied: “It will still go out seaward, but it won’t go out as far as we thought in 2016 for a period of the line. A lot of the beach at Holcombe will remain, but I cannot present that today as to how it will look like, but that is where we are now.”
(https://i2-prod.devonlive.com/incoming/article2225031.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_1-36.jpg)
A train in Dawlish today

He added the walkway would be retained and the sea wall would have a wave return to deflect energy away from the cliffs and the railway line.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
What are the technical proposals for the Dawlish rail line?
1. The line between Holcombe and Teignmouth will be relocated into the sea away from crumbling cliffs. Anne-Marie Morris explains how it needs to be ‘more robust.’
2. The continued strengthening of the sea wall at Dawlish near train station, following the high-profile collapse in February 2014.
3. Works to protect the tunnels by installing ‘avalanche shelters’ to protect the tracks from falling rocks.
4. A ‘helpdesk’ office to open to provide locals and visitors with information about the projects
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The news was welcomed by councillors on the committee, who said the residents of Holcombe would be happy.

(https://i2-prod.devonlive.com/incoming/article2225047.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_9e5f2f3d-b07a-4610-bf37-e995cdd4ee6f.jpg)
Campaigners want to save Holcombe Beach (Image: Daniel Clark)

Mr Lovell also told councillors that early in 2019, the final design of the new seawall planned for Marine Parade in Dawlish would be presented.

But he said that the wall will be 7.5m tall with a wave return to deflect the energy of the waves and to stop them going over the railway, that the walkway will be 4m wide when it is currently 3.1m wide, and there will be a barrier between the pedestrians and the edge of the to stop people falling off the wall.

He added: “Once we build a better sea wall, the overtopping of the sea water won’t happen. We are putting a design in place that will be there for 100 years, accounts for sea level rise, and won’t get the spray overtopping the railway line.”

He added that Network Rail were also coming up with design solutions to improve resilience for the area around Dawlish station. Mr Lovel said: “It would be an own goal to improve the Marine Parade sea wall only for the railway to be still closed as there is flooding at Dawlish station.”

However Cllr Rosalind Prowse questioned whether anything had actually changed since the line was washed away in the storms in 2014.

(https://i2-prod.devonlive.com/incoming/article2225056.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_002b5ecf-52b7-4c89-a5ea-7b47cc50bee2.jpg)
A train travels over the Dawlish sea wall (Image: Daniel Clark)

She said: “Sad to say I don’t think we’ve moved on a great deal since then and I still have the same concerns as did in 2014, but the weather has got worse and already with the unusually early storm the trains have had to stop running twice.

“I think that remedial are a waste of money and we should be doing the major works to get the line secured. Until the money is forthcoming, we could still be talking about it in four years’ time, but we all know that the money will appear if they line gets washed away.”

Mr Lovell said that the funding will come from central government as Network Rail don’t have the pot of money for it, and that they been advised the Dawlish rail line is Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling’s number one priority. He added: “I am convinced that this will happen and me and my team doing all we can to progress the schemes as quickly as we can, but they do take a long time.”

Cllr Prowse however said: “But a big storm doesn’t take a long time, it takes just a few hours.”
And Cllr Jackie Hook asked if Network Rail could guarantee there won’t be a catastrophic cliff fall.

(https://i2-prod.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/article2205532.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_dawlish.jpg)
A CrossCountry Voyager train passes the sea front at Dawlish

Mr Lovell said: “I cannot. In 2014, we had no advance warning it would happen. We are monitoring the cliffs and looking for any movement, and if we identified an issue, we would cliff the line, but we cannot guarantee the cliffs won’t fail. We are doing all we can to monitor and make things safe.”

The next phase of work to protect the sea wall at Dawlish has begun, Mr Lovel told councillors.
Four breakwaters at Boat Cove, Coastguards Point, Colonnade Underpass and Langstone Rock are being repaired. The work is set to take six months and will be carried out by world leaders in coastal, tunnel, cliff and railway engineering from Network Rail and BAM Nuttall.

Investigations are also continuing into whether loose material from the clifftop above Parsons Tunnel at Holcombe can be removed to stabilise the cliff and reduce the risk of landslips.

Trains are expected to be cancelled or delayed today because of forecast high tides at Dawlish.

National Rail say there will be disruption to CrossCountry services between Exeter St Davids and Paignton/Plymouth from 2pm until the end of the day.

Customers holding a valid CrossCountry ticket may use Great Western Railway services on any reasonable route from 2pm.

And again - from the Plymouth Herald (https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/plymouth-news/trains-cancelled-again-because-high-2247098)

"Via any reasonable route between Exeter St Davids and Paignton/Plymouth" Now, I wonder how many reasonable routes are available?  ::)