World’s best engineers to tackle coastal railway challenge

Network Rail has assembled a crack team of engineers to secure the future of the sea-battered railway line between Exeter and Newton Abbot.

In 2014, the line was closed for eight weeks owing to severe weather and coastal erosion, and a 2016 study identified that a series of measures was required to make sure that similar closures didn’t happen again.

The Department for Transport has provided a total of £46m so far to support repair work, and Network Rail is now moving on to the next phase: a detailed geological and marine study that will help it to safeguard the future of the line through Devon and Cornwall.

“The railway is vital for many residents and communities in Devon and Cornwall; safeguarding it for future generations remains one of our top priorities,” said Mike Gallop, director of route safety and asset management for Network Rail.

“The next six to eight weeks will see some of the world’s best engineers out on site as we gather as much information on the three key sites we have identified to help us start to work up possible solutions for us to present to the local community, local councils and government.”

Transport secretary Chris Grayling said the government was determined to safeguard the line through Dawlish and Teignmouth.  “On top of the £31m put into tackling the damage and disruption caused by the weather in 2014, we have invested a further £15m to enable world-class engineers to design a long-lasting solution for the line,” he said. “We are determined to improve the service for passengers and safeguard the economy by protecting the movement of goods and services, irrespective of the weather.”