Weather disruption caused in 2014, and how to prevent it happening again - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[SandTEngineer]

Dawlish Sea Wall to be strengthened.......

http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/News-Releases/Network-Rail-announces-follow-up-work-to-Dawlish-Sea-Wall-following-successful-reinstatement-of-trai-209c.aspx

[bobm]

Prince Charles is to visit the areas hit by flooding in Somerset on Tuesday (8th July) and meet representatives of FGW^▸ (First Great Western) and Network Rail.

From the Prince's official website

Tuesday 8th July 2014


In follow up to The Prince of Wales's visit to the Somerset Levels on 4th February 2014, His Royal Highness will undertake a series of engagements that are intended to champion the West Country's Tourism Sector and to recognise the fortitude of the local communities who suffered during the height of the Winter storms. 

His Royal Highness will visit Glastonbury Abbey to view restoration works to the Lady Chapel and meet representatives from the regional tourism sector.

The Prince of Wales will attend a reception at the Almonry Barn, Muchleney, to meet members of the local rural community who suffered from flooding earlier in the year, alongside representatives from the agencies and charities who supported them during that time.

His Royal Highness will visit Castle Cary Railway Station where he will meet First Great Western staff who restored elements of the damaged railway network and to learn about the company's "Be a Great Westerner" Campaign, together with representatives from Visit England, aboard the scheduled service to London Paddington.

[JayMac]

From the Western Gazette:

Prince Charles in Castle Cary to meet rail staff who battled to keep services running during Somerset floods

Prince Charles has been meeting with rail staff in Castle Cary who worked during the floods to try and keep the train lines open.

His visit to the town was part of a series of appearances he made today, five months after he came to see for himself the impact of the flooding on agriculture and the lives and livelihoods of residents on the Somerset Levels.

The Levels suffered ^once in 100 years^ flooding in July 2012, but endured even worse conditions last winter.

More than 128,000 acres were deluged ^ at a huge cost to local farmers ^ with around 40 homes under water and 200 more cut off.

Prince Charles used the emergency boat service ^ the only means of travelling in and out of Muchelney at the time ^ and a tractor to meet people in their own homes.

He earlier visited Muchelney and Glastonbury Abbey.

[JayMac]

From the Exeter Express & Echo:

Dawlish 'Orange Army' given award for work to rebuild storm-hit railway line

Network Rail^s 300 strong team of engineers who worked to rebuild Dawlish railway line following ferocious storms in February have been awarded for their efforts.

Newton Abbot MP^▸ (Member of Parliament) Anne- Marie Morris attended Network Rail^s annual awards dinner where she presented the Special Award to the team, known as the 'Orange Army^.

^This Project team of over 300 workers rebuilt our railway and reconnected Teignbridge and the South West ahead of schedule - often working in very difficult weather conditions,^ she said.

^ Their ^can do^ attitude won them many admirers among my constituents, and sets a great example for others to follow.^

Storms damaged the track in February and it took two months for the team to fix.

A well deserved award! 

[JayMac]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Storm-hit Dawlish rail line: Sea wall to be raised

A sea wall which was breached in winter storms will be raised to protect the main railway line in the south-west of England, Network Rail has confirmed.

The plans to raise the section at Dawlish, Devon have been criticised by some residents concerned about privacy.

A walkway on top of the wall is used by thousands of people every year.

In the 1840s, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, who built the rail, lost the same battle with a landowner.

The landowner insisted the wall should be lowered so he did not lose his privacy with walkers looking in.

Network Rail said the section of wall would be raised to the same height as the rest of the defence.

A spokesman said, subject to planning permission being granted, it hoped to start work in August with the project expected to be completed by the end of 2014.

He said two public meetings had been held and the organisation planned to keep residents updated throughout.

The line reopened in April after it was severely damaged by storms in February.

A 300-strong Network Rail team rebuilt the track at a cost of ^35m.

[ChrisB]

oh...30c on the way.....you know what's likely then

[JayMac]

Latest press release update from Network Rail on the repair and reinstatement work along the sea wall:

'Orange army' continues its work at Dawlish

Wednesday 6 Aug 2014

Network Rail^s ^orange army^ is continuing to work hard at Dawlish to repair the damage caused by the storms at the beginning of the year and to put in place measures to protect the area against any future extreme weather.

Since the reopening of the railway line on 4 April, engineers have been working round-the-clock to repair the damage caused to the sea wall and walkways. This has increasingly involved working during the night and at weekends, as staff work around train services.

While the work to repair the damage is nearing completion, further work is ongoing to prevent future closures caused by extreme weather. This work will continue until early next year and involves stabilising parts of the cliff between Teignmouth and Dawlish by removing slipped material, and adding netting and nailing to prevent any movement towards the track.

Tom Kirkham, Project Manager at Network Rail, said: ^The reopening of the railway at Dawlish was just the start of a long process, not only to repair the damage caused by the storms but to make the area more weatherproof for the future.

^We understand that local residents are keen that this work be completed as soon as possible and we apologise for any inconvenience caused. I would like to thank the local community for their continued patience and support, and reassure them that our staff are working round-the-clock to complete this essential work as quickly and safely as possible.^

Detailed below are the latest updates on the work being undertaken:

Dawlish Warren to Dawlish

• The section of walkway from Boat Cove to Coast Guard footbridge is open.
• The section of walkway from Dawlish Warren to Rockstone footbridge opened on 3 June, two weeks ahead of schedule.
• The majority of the overflow car park at Dawlish Warren station is now available again for public use.
• Due to essential work being undertaken to raise the lower walkway between Coast Guard and Rockstone Bridge, this section will remain closed until early next year.
• The high tide diversionary route via Exeter Road will remain in place for the duration of this work.

Teignmouth to Smugglers Lane

• It is anticipated that the section of sea wall walkway between Teignmouth and Smugglers Lane will be reopened to the public on 12 August. This follows the challenging work of stabilising parts of the cliff and the extended work to repair Sprey Point ramp.
• In order to accommodate cliff stabilisation work between Teignmouth and Smugglers Lane, the walkway will be closed overnight on Saturdays. Overnight closures may also occur on some mid-week days, but only if it is essential.

[TaplowGreen]

..............better late than never! 

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Storm repair truck swamped by sea at Dawlish


Network Rail said it was investigating how the truck became "overwhelmed by the incoming tide"

A 35-tonne truck has been abandoned after being swamped by the sea in Devon.

It was being used to rebuild a coastal walkway and sea wall at Dawlish that had been damaged by winter storms.

Network Rail said no-one was injured and it was investigating how the truck became "overwhelmed by the incoming tide".

It added the vehicle would be removed from the beach in the next few days and believed it had not been ruined.

The path and railway line in Dawlish were severely damaged by massive waves which left the south-west of England without a rail connection for two months.

The walkway is the final section of footpath between Dawlish Warren and Teignmouth to be repaired following the damage. It is expected to be completed in 2015.

[TaplowGreen]

.........did no-one explain the theory of incoming tides to them? 

[trainer]

.........did no-one explain the theory of incoming tides to them? 

They have discovered that it's a bit more than a theory. 

[Oxman]

NR^» (Network Rail - home page) has come up with a solution to the problem of flooding at Cowley Bridge:

http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/News-Releases/Proposed-solution-to-flooding-at-Cowley-and-Stafford-bridges-in-Exeter-2193.aspx

It plans to remove three weirs from the River Exe.

Ingenious!

[ChrisB]

But aren't they there for a reason?....if not, why were they ever built?

[Chris from Nailsea]

Reading that news release, Network Rail's proposal does have the merit of being environmentally friendly:

The solution of removing Pynes, Exwick and Cowley weirs was chosen as the most preferable because it would provide the highest return on investment when the extent to which it could prevent further flooding was compared to its cost. Once the three weirs are removed, the river will be returned to its natural state, meaning that in this part the water level will fall by up to a metre.

(My highlighting)

[chrisr_75]

But aren't they there for a reason?....if not, why were they ever built?

Usually built to maintain a water level to aid navigation and/or to limit tidal reach. However, I suspect they cause some problems with concentrating energy at the weir locations along the river channel which results in the flooding that the removal of the weirs is hoped to prevent. Presumably these weirs are now redundant from their original purpose so can be safely removed.