Five Alternative routes considered to Dawlish

Network Rail has said they will consider five alternative routes as a long term response to the destroyed line at Dawlish.

Options include creating a new passenger route using the existing freight train lines at Alphington and Heathfield near Newton Abbot.

Another option is to reinstate the closed Okehampton line which is expected to cost up to £700m.

Three new routes travelling to Newton Abbot propose new tunnels being built and would maintain a high number of trains travelling through Dawlish.

Network rail also suggest work to make the current coastal line more resilient as further option.

The investment is likely to hinge on the results of the rail operator’s Western route study designed to determine where the best investment would be.

The route study started last year is due to complete in spring 2015 but will now be accelerated to focus on options west of Exeter.

Network Rail expect to finalise a report for the Transport Secretary by June with a formal shortlist slated for the autumn.

The line at Dawlish destroyed on February 5th is expected to be completed by mid-April although network rail have said that if the weather and other factors allow they may be able to reopen sooner.

Work is continuing today with Track being built between the station and tunnel, and preparation work starts to install shuttering for the rear wall at the main site and at Dawlish Warren.

Concrete pouring to the walkway continues and new coping stones begin to be laid at the station platform.

Rail companies have laid on replacement bus services with reduced fares to serve the affected area, while Stagecoach South West have also reduced their fares on some services.

The Exeter based airline, Flybe, has also scheduled extra flights to and from Newquay and London Gatwick while the rail disruption continues.

Last week councillors from Devon County Council backed a motion to call for more investment from the government in the county’s road and systems to ensure they are ‘fit for purpose’.

All-parties’ supported the initiative proposed by the authority’s deputy leader and Dawlish councillor John Clatworthy.

Mr Clatworthy’s Notice of Motion reads: “The county council calls on the Government to make funds urgently available to assist in the immediate enhancement of the vital rail and road transport arteries linking Devon and the wider South West with the rest of the country.

“Devon’s main rail link has been cut off for two winters running and it is vital that work to improve its resilience at vulnerable locations such as Cowley Bridge, Dawlish and Teignmouth is undertaken urgently.

“The county council also seeks support to repair and improve our road network to ensure that Devon remains open for business so we can ensure our local industries have the right climate to create more jobs and not threaten the continuing economic recovery.”

Yesterday West Country leaders appeared before the House of Commons Transport Committee to discuss the damage from the winter storms.

Leaders from Plymouth City Council, Torbay, the county council and others told MPs that the damage to the rail line has had a massive impact on the South West economy.