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Network Rail chooses Dawlish alternative route Network Rail chooses Dawlish alternative route
(about 5 hours later)
Network Rail has chosen an alternative railway route to the storm-stricken Dawlish line, BBC News can reveal. Network Rail has chosen an additional alternative railway route to the storm-stricken Dawlish line along the Devon coast, BBC News can reveal.
The route would head from Okehampton to Plymouth via Tavistock and go through parts of the Dartmoor National Park. The route would head from Okehampton to Plymouth via Tavistock and go through parts of Dartmoor National Park.
There is no timescale for the plan which Network Rail concluded in outline proposals last year would cost hundreds of millions of pounds. There is no timescale for the plan, which Network Rail concluded in outline proposals last year would cost hundreds of millions of pounds.
The damage at Dawlish means no trains are running between Exeter St Davids and Newton Abbot, said Network Rail. However, it added that abandoning the Dawlish route was "not an option".
Three alternatives to the Dawlish route have been discussed locally over the years. Three alternatives to that route have been discussed locally over the years.
Of the three alternatives, two of them are in south Devon - including the Teign Valley route, via Christow and Heathfield, and the so-called Dawlish Avoiding Line, which was promoted in the 1930s but was never built. Of the three alternatives, two of them are in south Devon - including the Teign Valley route, via Christow and Heathfield - and the so-called Dawlish Avoiding Line, which was promoted in the 1930s but was never built.
The route would have passed inland behind Teignmouth and Dawlish rather than along the coast like the current line.The route would have passed inland behind Teignmouth and Dawlish rather than along the coast like the current line.
However, Network Rail is only considering the Okehampton-Tavistock-Plymouth route as a likely candidate. Network Rail is believed to be only considering the Okehampton-Tavistock-Plymouth route.
Trains can already run to Meldon, west of Okehampton, on a freight line and there are currently plans to reopen a stretch of line connecting Tavistock southwards to Bere Alston.Trains can already run to Meldon, west of Okehampton, on a freight line and there are currently plans to reopen a stretch of line connecting Tavistock southwards to Bere Alston.
The route Network Rail is now openly discussing is the stretch between Meldon and Tavistock. The route between Meldon and Tavistock is being considered by Network Rail.
Patrick Hallgate of Network Rail said at Dawlish: "It's hundreds of millions of pounds to do so and it's on land that has already been built on in terms of the old railway alignment. Patrick Hallgate, of Network Rail, said: "It's hundreds of millions of pounds to do, and it's on land that has already been built on in terms of the old railway alignment.
"It's also on land that we don't currently own. So there are all sorts of long-term strategies that would be required to make that happen. "It's also on land that we don't currently own. So, there are all sorts of long-term strategies that would be required to make that happen.
"For me at the moment it is about getting this line open as quickly as possible.""For me at the moment it is about getting this line open as quickly as possible."
Bill Hitchins, chairman of Dartmoor National Park Authority, said: "We have not seen any kind of proposal to discuss, much less vote on.Bill Hitchins, chairman of Dartmoor National Park Authority, said: "We have not seen any kind of proposal to discuss, much less vote on.
"I'm sure we would be only too pleased to be involved in any discussions."I'm sure we would be only too pleased to be involved in any discussions.
"Personally, I have always felt that it (the line) should not have been closed, and it should not have been developed in the way it has been developed.""Personally, I have always felt that it (the line) should not have been closed, and it should not have been developed in the way it has been developed."
Damage to the track at Dawlish means that the line between Exeter St Davids and Newton Abbot is not expected to reopen until mid April at the earliest, and in the meantime buses are replacing trains. Damage to the track at Dawlish means the line between Exeter St Davids and Newton Abbot is not expected to reopen until mid-April at the earliest, and in the meantime buses are replacing trains.
Flooding in the Bridgwater and Taunton areas means a limited number of trains are able to run between Bridgwater and Taunton. However, despite talk of alternatives, Network Rail said it was committed to a permanent restoration of the Dawlish track.
It said any other routes would be in addition to the exiting line, not least of all because about £10m had been on improvements at Dawlish over recent years.
Julian Burnell, from Network Rail, said: "Some people have said, 'Why don't we abandon this line?'. That's not an option.
"This is a main line, it's a scenic line and it serves some very important towns along south Devon on the way down to Plymouth.
"We're not going to abandon this line."
Elsewhere on the line, flooding in the Bridgwater and Taunton areas in Somerset means a limited number of trains are able to run between the towns.
CrossCountry have buses replacing trains non-stop between Bristol Parkway and Plymouth. Passengers requiring interim stops can travel on First Great Western buses.CrossCountry have buses replacing trains non-stop between Bristol Parkway and Plymouth. Passengers requiring interim stops can travel on First Great Western buses.
Trains between Exeter St Davids and Waterloo are now able to run normally following a landslip near Crewkerne.Trains between Exeter St Davids and Waterloo are now able to run normally following a landslip near Crewkerne.
The Exeter to London Paddington line has reopened after earlier flooding at Castle Cary. The Exeter-to-London Paddington line has reopened after earlier flooding at Castle Cary.