South Devon sea-wall ‘held up well’ despite recent storm battering say ministers

Government ministers have pledged to keep South Devon’s vital rail link running reliably as winter storms increase.

Newton Abbot Liberal Democrat MP Martin Wrigley raised concerns about the safety of the coastal line between Teignmouth and Dawlish after recent storms.

READ NEXT: Plymouth residents urged to help shape major road improvements, with key routes affected

Waves battered coastal defences along the exposed stretch of line and, while the recently upgraded defences around Dawlish station stood firm, an older section of sea wall was breached.

Mr Wrigley has also been campaigning for Network Rail to complete its planned resilience work on cliffs near Teignmouth. 

The cliff work will be the final phase of the South West Rail Resilience Programme, but funding has not yet been secured.

The MP said he fears a cliff fall during a future storm could cut off the rail line for months.

He asked transport ministers what assessments had been made of the most recent damage and what plans were in place to support long-term resilience improvements.

Department for Transport (DfT) under-secretary Keir Mather (Lab, Selby) said improvements had followed £165 million invested in storm resilience around Dawlish after the catastrophic storms in 2014, which closed the rail line for weeks.

He said: “Despite the frequency of recent storms and their intensity, the works completed since 2014 held up well and there were only two areas of damage, one a low wall between the coastal path and the railway, and the other a small breach some distance from the line, both of which have been made safe.

“The railway was not closed for long other than during the storms themselves and held up remarkably well, a tribute to the works completed since 2014. Nevertheless, Network Rail will continue to plan for similar events and pursue actions to keep the railway running reliably.”

Mr Wrigley also asked ministers to meet with Network Rail to discuss funding for the final phase of the South West Rail Resilience Programme.

On this question, DfT under-secretary Simon Lightwood (Lab, Wakefield and Rothwell) said departmental officials met Network Rail regularly.

He said: “While the cliffs at Teignmouth were not affected by storms Ingrid and Chandra, officials are monitoring progress with the drainage and ground investigations work we have funded so far on Phase Five of the South West Rail Resilience Programme, which will inform options for a longer-term solution.

“The investment made to date in storm resilience around Dawlish following the 2014 storms has significantly improved resilience in this area and held up well despite the frequency and intensity of recent storms.”