Major work to replace banks to protect rail line

The main railway line from Exeter to Plymouth and into Cornwall runs alongside the Exe Estuary

Major work is needed to protect the main rail line through Devon and into Cornwall, the Environment Agency says.

The line between Exeter and Dawlish runs along the Exe Estuary and bosses fear water is eroding the ground underneath the track.

The Environment Agency said it was working with Network Rail to plan "a full replacement of the banks" at Powderham, just south of Exeter.

A climate change expert said rail infrastructure along the coast would face increasing challenges in the coming years.

'Resilience'

Urgent work has already been carried out to repair a section of the embankment at Powderham after a hole appeared there in September 2023.

An Environment Agency spokesman said it was working with Network Rail "to improve resilience" at Powderham.

The spokesman said: "We are now in the early stages of planning a full replacement of the banks to ensure the railway line, properties within Exminster and the Exminster Marshes reserve are protected.”

The Environment Agency and Network Rail said they were monitoring the embankment through the winter for any immediate issues.

The agency had previously said it was concerned by the age and construction of the embankment, worsened by burrowing animals and water passing through it.

Prof Richard Betts is an expert in climate impact from the University of Exeter

Prof Richard Betts, who is a specialist in climate impact from the University of Exeter, said: "There are potential concerns anywhere where you're near the sea because sea levels are rising and global temperatures are increasing because of human-caused climate change.

"We could see erosion of the ground next to the water. If there are stormy conditions that would increase and you could see waves splashing onto tracks and onto trains."

Bryony Chetwode represents the passenger group Travelwatch South West

Two trains became "stranded" on Sunday in very wet weather - one at Dawlish and another at Teignmouth - with the cause being investigated.

The planned work at Powderham was welcomed by Bryony Chetwode from the passenger group Travelwatch South West.

She said: "The work on the bank is really good news but I think more widely across the region we need to be planning to fail.

"There are going to be occasions when the weather wins and what a passenger needs to know is they're going to be able to get there somehow."

Ms Chetwode said a "second strategic route" was needed along with "fleets of buses" to pick up passengers when the rail network failed.

Andrea Davis, who chairs the Peninsula Rail Task Force, is also deputy leader of Devon County Council

Devon County Council deputy leader Andrea Davis, who chairs the Peninsula Rail Task Force - which brings transport bodies together in Cornwall, Devon and Somerset, said: "With sea level rises which we know are predicted to go up, we do know there is an issue.

"There is a taskforce going out there from Network Rail, working with the Environment Agency, looking at those predictions and the areas of the rail network that are most susceptible to future flooding."