the track at Dawlish

[Kestrel]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... antic.html

[strang steel]

I know. It is a disaster for people living in West Devon and Cornwall, because that is going to take a while to repair. It is a shame they closed the Okehampton, Tavistock, Bere Alston section because that was an ideal diversion route.

[Autocar Publicity]

And a better informed source:

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index. ... t-dawlish/

One of the posters is an engineer who is working on the repairs. It looks like it will be several weeks before the line is open again.

[Autocar Publicity]

I know. It is a disaster for people living in West Devon and Cornwall, because that is going to take a while to repair. It is a shame they closed the Okehampton, Tavistock, Bere Alston section because that was an ideal diversion route.

The Bere Alston - Tavistock section is due to be reinstated during 2016. Though this will only be single line and apparently the trackbed north of the planned new station is partially blocked, so together with the issues over Meldon viaduct, full reconnection of the Southern's route is unlikely.

[richard]

It has been known for sometime that it is inevitable that the Dawlish route will have to be abandoned at some point. Of course there's a reluctance to do this because it would isolate Cornwall, and/or it would be very expensive to build a detour.

[strang steel]

It does seem strange how money can be found for HS2, but virtually nothing for an extra connection to the outlying counties such as Cornwall.

For them, it is vital for keeping people employed.

[Mickey]

Deleted

[richard]

There have been official reports to this effect in the past decade. It isn't news!

But then I see this from the geologists' point of view, and it is yet another case of stubborn short term humans vs the inevitability of geology. (people building houses on old landslides in California are another example)

[Bryan]

One thing that stands out to me, is the greater security of the fastenings of the Down Line. look like G44 Fastclip sleepers as against the UP line with the pandrol fastening.

[65447]

Apparently the line along this exposed stretch was first washed away by storms only months after opening in 1846, while it is rumoured that Network Rail spends the best part of £0.5 million a year maintaining the coastal sections.

[mr B]

was wondering , the water gets over the wall - cant get out - thus washes the wall away , so why not bridge/viaduct the offending area ?

silly me , they'll come along and repair wth syreene blocks


mr B

[52D]

On our own area the ECML north of Berwick has had to be routed inland a couple of times following landslips but the major incident was the floods of 1948. At the time BR had all the experience of former Army men who after WW2 were experts in quick temporary bridging and also there was a pool of experienced railwaymen from the big four that could be drawn on. Today we have a small cadre of army reservists most of whom are fighting abroad and this and successive governments have destroyed the pool of experienced talent that could be harnessed. I wonder how long this repair will take.

[Autocar Publicity]

The 'official' word at the moment is six weeks. But most commentators are covering themselves by saying it's a preliminary estimate and to be fair, even the most knowledgeable engineers probably are not sure themselves yet. Tomorrow night's predicted storm could easily increase the damage and add to the workload.

Perhaps now would be a good time to express sympathy for the inhabitants of the houses affected and support for the workers who are trying to repair the damage in poor conditions?

[BJamieson]

You might like to sign this.

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/60302

Bill

[strang steel]

Signed....



I realise there are many technical aspects to overcome, but where there is a will there is a way.

There are a few lines that should never have been closed from a strategic point of view in my opinion, and this is one.

Along with March to Spalding and Oxford to Cambridge - to name two off the top of my head.

Oh, and the Waverley route.