West of Exeter Route Resilience Study

Winter 2013/14 saw exceptional weather affect the UK, with a run of winter storms culminating in serious coastal damage and widespread, persistent flooding. During this period of exceptional weather, the transport system was among the most severely affected elements of UK infrastructure.

Perhaps the most iconic event of the winter was the severe damage to a coastal section of the South West main line railway at Dawlish, Devon during the storm of 4th–5th February, and further damage during a subsequent storm on 14th–15th February. This event saw the railway in the south-west of the UK cut off from the rest of the UK railway network for two months, reopening on 4th April.

In March 2014, as repairs to the Dawlish line progressed, a task force was set up to review the long-term strategy for the coastal route. The task force is led by Network Rail, and includes other organisations such as the UK Government Department for Transport, the Environment Agency, local passenger train and freight train operators, and local government organisations.

Projected sea level rises, passenger demand, the impact on communities and environmental, social and economic factors were considered as part of the process, as well as examining engineering options to strengthen the sea wall. The study assessed from a cost-benefit perspective 5 options (keeping the current line or baseline scenario, strenghtening the current railine, and 3 alternative layouts for a new rail line, with some variants).