Ferocious storms punched an 80-metre hole in the Sea Wall at Dawlish on February 4, cutting off much of Devon and Cornwall from the national rail network.
A section of Brunel’s famous railway, just north of Dawlish station, collapsed after hours of being pounded by winter storms. The road adjacent to the railway and several houses were also significantly damaged, as was Dawlish station.
Full assessment of the repairs required was taking place as RAIL went to press, once calmer weather arrived. Initial assessments are that repairs will take at least six weeks to complete.
Network Rail Managing Director of Network Operations Robin Gisby told RAIL that NR buoys located in the English Channel had predicted the storms, and issued a ‘black’ warning. This is the first time such a severe storm has been predicted since the system was introduced in 2007.
Gisby was unable to give a detailed explanation as to why that particular part of the wall collapsed. He suggested it was because the houses there are built on part of the former railway yard, meaning that part of the structure is perhaps not as strong as the rest of the wall. He added that NR had prepared for further collapses over the weekend of February 8/9, when more severe storms were forecast, but that those did not happen.
Patrick Hallgate, NR Western route director, said on February 6: “We absolutely understand the importance of the railway to the South West, and will do everything we can to rebuild the railway at Dawlish as quickly and as safely as we can.”
http://www.railmagazine.com/news/default.asp?storyID=2
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