Friday, February 15, 2019
The Department for Transport has announced a funding of up to £80m to deliver a new sea wall at Dawlish that will provide better protection for the railway and homes behind it.
The Devon and Cornwall were cut off from the rest of the UK by rail since five years.
The Great Western Railway was severed from Exeter to Plymouth in February 2014. The line between London to Penznace is located close to the coast and is prone to seawater.
The railway sleepers became driftwood during the storm which causes the suspension of tracks in mid-air.
Trains could not pass through for two months until the 100 ft gap in Brunel’s handiwork was repaired.
The DfT said serious damage and disruption was noted during storms in 2014 and this will ensure that it is not repeated.
However, the rail campaigners opined that it would be better if the money could be spent on reinstating the London and South Western Railway from Exeter via Crediton, Okehampton and Tavistock to Plymouth.
There is less chances of vulnerability due to inclement weather in the inland route.
In the late 1960s it was closed as part of the wholesale dismantling of the rail network.
More than half of the lines still carries trains and Okehampton has a link from Exeter , the Bere Alston near Tavistock is connected to Plymouth.
It is estimated that the cost of reinstating the missing portion around the fringes of Dartmoor will be hundreds of millions of pounds.
The transport secretary, Chris Grayling doesn’t want the disruption and damage endured by Dawlish and the south west to happen again.
Through the investment they commitment to deliver a resilient and safe railway giving the passengers, businesses and residents confidence in a reliable service.
Tags: Chris Grayling, Dawlish Sea Wall
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Wednesday, March 27, 2024