Network Rail has made a planning submission to Teignbridge District Council to improve the long-term resilience of the railway linking Devon and Cornwall to the rest of the UK as part of the South West Rail Resilience Programme.

Developed in partnership with world leading engineering contractors Arup, the plans, or a new, higher sea wall at Dawlish will be submitted to the council, targeted at providing greater resilience for generations to come.

The design is aimed at preventing stormy conditions from damaging the railway at Dawlish in Devon. Owing to high waves and strong winds, the tracks and station are regularly being damaged by flooding, as seen in 2014 when the line washed away.

Since then Network Rail has undertaken a series of detailed studies which established that maintaining the current railway route was the most feasible and cost effective solution. They subsequently identified the areas that needed most urgent attention – including the Dawlish sea wall.

The new sea wall will provide far more protection from waves and extreme weather and is future-proofed to protect the railway and the town, taking into account predicted rising sea levels.

Based on the studies, the government invested £15 million to appoint world-leading coastal, tunnel, cliff and railway engineers to undertake detailed marine and geological studies to develop long term resilience plans further.

The plans were shared with the local community in October when Network Rail outlined proposals for the three priority areas including a new, higher sea wall at Dawlish.

Work also started in November to repair the breakwaters which provide a vital defence for the coast against the elements.

Network Rail is now submitting the plans for ‘prior approval’ under Network Rail’s permitted development rights. Under this Teignbridge District Council will now be able to formally consult the local community on the proposed designs.

The plans have been submitted to Teignbridge District Council with the knowledge of the Secretary of State for Transport and the outcome of the council’s decision will help inform government’s decision on next steps for the South West Rail Resilience Programme.

Mark Langman, Network Rail’s Western route managing director, said that from blank page studies that looked at all options the route had been identified as the most feasible rail route for Devon and Cornwall, commenting:

“Improving the resilience of the sea wall at Dawlish is one of the most immediate and easiest areas we can begin work on and we’ve now submitted detailed plans to Teignbridge District Council.

“These plans are now subject to the views of the council, their residents and a final decision from government.

He added that Network Rail was continuing to work in parallel on possible solutions at Holcombe and Parsons Tunnel .

House of Lords - What is plan B if application is declined?

The wider implications of the issue were raised in a debate in the House of Lords yesterday. Lord Rosser Shadow Spokesperson (Home Affairs & Transport) pointed out that in very bad weather the Voyager trains currently used by the CrossCountry franchise are often unable to operate west of Exeter. Electrics on the roofs of the trains are adversely affected by salt water coming over the sea wall in the Dawlish area.

Lord Rosser asked:

“Will the new Hitachi trains being introduced on the line also be adversely affected by salt water coming over the sea wall? Secondly, Network Rail’s plan for preventing sea damage is, as has been said, to build a new, higher sea wall, in respect of which it has made a planning submission to the relevant local authority, with the knowledge of the Secretary of State.”

“We know the problem is only going to get worse as sea levels rise, so what happens if that planning application is declined? What is plan B? Or is there no plan B?”

Dept of Transport “absolutely determined to come up with a long-term solution to this problem”

In reply Baroness Sugg, Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Department for Transport had rightly pointed out the issues with CrossCountry trains, commenting:

“The new intercity express trains on GWR were also affected by weather along the Devon coast last week, so we are working very closely with Hitachi to find a solution. As the noble Lord pointed out, there is a planning submission in play and, as I said, we are absolutely determined to come up with a long-term solution to this problem.”