Rail services between Exeter St Davids and Plymouth were suspended after part of the sea wall protecting the line at Dawlish partially collapsed, leaving debris and flooding on the track.
The damage occurred at Sea Lawn Terrace, where sections of the wall were demolished, scattering tonnes of debris across the railway. The disruption comes as parts of the south west continue to recover from the effects of Storm Goretti.
Martin Wrigley, the Liberal Democrat MP for Newton Abbot, said the incident demonstrated that further investment was needed to strengthen the route. He described the railway as “a crucial lifeline for the entire south west” and warned that more work was required to improve its resilience.
“The wall beside the track at Sea Lawn Terrace has been demolished and there is literally tonnes of debris on the line, let alone the amount of water on the line,” he said.
Network Rail confirmed that the sea wall had collapsed in two places, prompting the organisation to issue a black alert – its highest warning level – for only the second time since storms destroyed sections of the line at Dawlish in February 2014.
Following inspections of safety-critical parts of the infrastructure, Network Rail said a limited service was now operating through Dawlish. However, speed restrictions remain in place, resulting in ongoing delays.
James Crook, from Network Rail, said teams had worked in “pretty trying conditions” to clear debris and make the route safe.
He added that a number of issues remained, including sections of ballast that had been washed away. Repair work is expected to continue throughout the week.
“It was not only the heavy wind and the rain, it was also the high tide on Friday evening,” he said. “All of those things combining together had a strong impact on the railway.”
Image credit: Network Rail