Kevin Foster, Conservative Parliamentary Spokesman for Torbay, has today (Thursday 5th February 2014) joined the calls for action to secure Devon & Cornwall’s Rail Infrastructure from future bad weather.
His call follows the latest disruption to rail services caused by the serious damage to the coastal line at Dawlish. The force of the waves battering the coastline has literally left the region’s only rail link hanging in the air with no services possible west of Exeter St Davids. The issue was raised at Prime Minister’s Question Time today, with a firm commitment being made to get the current damage repaired.
Whilst supporting the coastal railway as a vital link for the communities it serves, Kevin believes that there does need to be a wider debate about ensuring the bay, along with Plymouth and Cornwall, are not regularly cut off from the rail network due to bad weather at Dawlish.
Commenting, Kevin said: “My first thoughts are with the Emergency Services and the staff of Network Rail who are battling the elements to keep people safe and minimise further damage.
“I am pleased to hear the Prime Minister’s clear pledge to get alternative transport in place and a solution to fix the damage as soon as possible.”
“The coastal railway at Dawlish is one of the most beautiful parts of our national network and I want to see it retained. Yet it has been vulnerable to heavy seas since Brunel built it.”
“I believe it is not sustainable in the long term for it to be the only rail route west of Exeter. Regular disruption on this stretch damages the chances of getting investment into the bay and cuts us off from not just from the rest of the country, but the vital air links to growing markets via Heathrow Airport.”
“We need to secure the Dawlish stretch by building a breakwater and develop a clear plan to create a second rail route west so that you can consult a Rail Timetable, not the Shipping Forecast, to see if you can get to the bay by train.”
Prime Minister's statement following today’s COBRA meeting:
"My sympathy is with everyone affected by the ongoing storms which are causing misery to communities and businesses across the country. With power outages, more flooding and more bad weather forecast, I have chaired a COBRA this afternoon to ensure that everything that can be done to get stricken communities moving is being done: there are no restrictions on help. I have seen the shocking pictures of the destroyed train line in Dawlish and I am determined that while it is out of action, the public get a proper alternative service and a solution is found to fix it, as soon as possible. The government will continue to hold emergency COBRA meetings to ensure these problems are sorted out.
"In Somerset, the Environment Agency continues to pump 3 million tonnes of water a day off the Levels alongside high velocity pumps provided by the fire and rescue service. But no amount of pumping will solve the current problem completely because the land is so saturated, so dredging will start as soon as the waters have receded enough for it to be safe to do so.
"We need a long-term solution, so earlier today I announced a further £100 million to repair and maintain those flood defences which have taken such a battering, while protecting 165,000 homes in recent weeks, in addition to a record £2.4 billion being spent by this government."