MPs warn crumbling cliffs could block Devon and Cornwall rail services
New worries regarding train journeys leaving Devon and Cornwall have emerged, with parliamentarians cautioning that degrading cliffs might obstruct the railway, according to bbc.com. Since a severe storm in February 2014 wrecked a section of the Dawlish sea wall in Devon—leaving tracks suspended mid-air and severing the South West rail link—Network Rail has invested £165m on upgrades. Yet, a project to secure the coastal slopes between Parson’s Tunnel and Teignmouth has been paused due to its prohibitive cost.
Torbay Lib Dem MP Steve Darling told the House of Commons the cliffs were the enemy now, rather than the sea
. He noted that climate change was creating new challenges through more extreme weather. Hotter summers were drying out soil and increasing the risk of track problems caused by ground movement, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Parliamentary Debate on South West Resilience
Labour MP for Truro and Falmouth Jayne Kirkham warned of the dangers of the cliffs. She contended that residents in the South West were asked to endure travel problems that would be deemed unacceptable in other regions. Liberal Democrat MP Richard Foord added that passengers faced delays, cancellations and overcrowded services. Passengers deserve railways that withstand the climate conditions that we are set to face,
Foord said.
Transport minister Simon Lightwood defended the government’s record. He pointed out that significant investment had improved the line’s resilience. Pointing to recent storms when services resumed the day after a closure, Lightwood stated, The new seawall performed as designed, helping to protect the infrastructure from major damage.
He added that investigations were continuing into the unfinished final phase of the resilience project. These efforts include drainage trials aimed at removing water from the cliffs.
Reinforcing the cliff between Parson’s Tunnel and Teignmouth remains on hold while these investigations continue.