Comments on: Dawlish Sea Wall Under Threat http://www.kalyr.co.uk/weblog/railways/dawlish-sea-wall-under-threat/ The blogs of Tim Hall Fri, 14 Apr 2017 23:35:42 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=3.7.41 By: James Bell http://www.kalyr.co.uk/weblog/railways/dawlish-sea-wall-under-threat/comment-page-1/#comment-818 Mon, 12 Jun 2006 18:50:24 +0000 http://kalyr.co.uk/wordpress/?p=429#comment-818 The Tory MP for Totnes should reflect upon the fact that an alternative route between Exeter and Plymouth used to exist. It was axed by the infamous Beeching Plan of the early 1960s, instigated by the (then) Tory Government.

This was the old Southern Railway route. Part of it still exists on the line to Barnstaple. The Plymouth tracks diverge at Coleford Junction, west of Crediton. Tracks are still in place (and useable) as far as Okehampton and Meldon.

BR went to great lengths to ensure that train crews remained conversant with both routes in case of possible disruption at Dawlish. It wouldn’t be of much use for Newton Abbot, Teignmouth or Totnes but it would have been of great value in the circumstances you are debating here.

Best Wishes,

James Bell,
Harwich,
Essex.

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