Media centre

Monday 23 Dec 2019

Public consultation round two: Have your say on revised plans to protect vital rail line between Teignmouth and Dawlish

Region & Route:

Wales & Western: Western

• Local communities invited to view revised plans and help shape final design of changes to vital, vulnerable rail line
• Public consultation opens on 20 January
• Six-week consultation will include further details of proposed realignment of railway, stabilising measures and new public amenities
• 10-metre scale model illustrating proposals to be presented to the public

Network Rail is inviting communities to share with them their views on further developed proposals to protect the vital rail line between Teignmouth and Holcombe.

The stretch of railway between Parsons Tunnel, near Holcombe, and Teignmouth is at potential risk from rising sea levels and landslips from steep, unstable cliffs. This risk was highlighted when the cliff failed in 2014, severing 50 Devon and Cornwall towns, cities and communities from the rest of the UK rail network for six weeks.

The consultation will last for six weeks from 20 January to 1 March and Network Rail will again be conducting consultation events in Dawlish, Teignmouth, Holcombe, Newton Abbot, Torquay and Exeter.

A free shuttle service will be offered to residents for the consultation sessions in Teignmouth. The events, being held at the golf course because of a lack of availability of venues in the town, will have a service running regularly between the railway station and the events at the golf course.

All other venues for the consultation are either central to the towns or villages they are being hosted in or easily accessible by public transport.

The latest refined set of proposals will explain revised design, environmental research and construction and will be illustrated by a 10-metre long scale model of the site.

Mike Gallop, route director for Network Rail, said:  “We are grateful to everyone that took the time to provide their views in our first round of consultation, and I would encourage anyone who has an opinion on our proposals to provide us with feedback as these may lead to further refinements before we apply for consent to undertake the work.

“During the first phase of public consultation we were able to meet many hundreds of local residents to get their thoughts on our plans to enhance the resilience of this nationally important stretch of railway line that connects the South West to the rest of the country. I’m certain that this second round will be equally as beneficial, and I look forward to hearing the feedback on our revised plans.”