Network Rail ‘in complete denial’ over Dawlish sea wall

Network Rail (NR) has “long been in complete denial” about the vulnerability of the Dawlish sea wall in Devon, which collapsed following the severe storms that battered the south coast last week, TravelWatch SouthWest (TWSW) said.

The collapse of the wall, and subsequent damage to the track, has severely affected rail services in south west England, with repair work expected to last at least six weeks.

NR thought it could “engineer its way” out of the problem, TWSW said, but “nature knows better”.

It pointed out that a passenger group report in 2004 had recommended the re-routing services by opening an old rail route, which lies north of the current route, to ensure against problems at Dawlish.

‘It thought it could engineer its way out of the threat. Nature knows better’ – Professor Frank Chambers

TWSW said: “Had the recommendation in that 2004 report been heeded, the studies would already have been completed, and a clear preferred diversionary route might now be available.”

The passenger group added that “for too long the Whitehall view of the south west has ended at Bristol”.

It said unless investment was made there would be “a significant and long-lasting negative impact on the economies of Devon and Cornwall”.

TWSW chairman Professor Frank Chambers said: “As for Network Rail, it has for long been in complete denial about the vulnerability of the Dawlish sea wall to severe storm damage.

“Until last week, it thought it could engineer its way out of the threat. Nature knows better, and has given Network Rail a very stark and salutary lesson.”

He added: “Rail passengers, the business community and tourists in the south west need assurance that the Government and rail bosses will really now get a proper grip.

“The loss of income and earnings in south and west Devon and in Cornwall over the next few weeks and months, while the Dawlish route is restored, already exceeds the cost of building a diversionary route.

“While we are grateful to train operators for dealing swiftly with changing and challenging conditions, it is vital to keep passengers informed.”

(Pcitured above: the Dawlish sea wall 1973 – Getty Images)

Prof Chambers said TWSW had received numerous complaints where passenger information for First Great Western customers both online and at stations had been inaccurate, misleading, confusing and contradictory, or in some cases completely unavailable.

“There should be much better contingency planning,” he added.

NR said the water levels in the River Thames were at their highest for many years and were bringing disruption to certain routes in the area.

Flooding around the Berkshire town of Datchet and several other locations meant trains were not able to run between Staines and Windsor & Eton Riverside stations.

It said water levels were expected to rise throughout the day and it is expected to be some time before the line will reopen. A replacement bus service is currently in operation.

The line from Oxford to Didcot was disrupted, but still running, with flooding at Hinksey.

Groundwater was also causing problems with equipment in the Maidenhead area, but trains were running.

NR said two of the three routes from Exeter to London – via Athelney and Crewkerne – had reopened following flooding and a landslip at the weekend, and trains were also able to run from Taunton to Exeter following the completion of engineering work at Whiteball Tunnel.

The line through Bridgwater, linking Taunton to Bristol, remains closed with the flooding on the Somerset Levels.

NR said work to protect the damaged sea wall at Dawlish continued, with a temporary breakwater erected from rubble-filled shipping containers enabling the start of repairs to the main area of damage.

Sussex suffered a further landslip over the weekend near Stonegate, adding to two slips that were already being repaired. Buses are replacing trains between Wadhurst and Battle until repairs can be made.