Dawlish Avoiding Line - ongoing discussion, merged topic

[whole diary]

[Electric train]

I would like to know why Network Rail's knee-jerk reaction when faced the collapsed sea wall was to immediately dismiss an alternative route. The reasons were a) cost of ^700-800 million, and b) beset with problems.

I would like to ask Network Rail a) how much was Crossrail, and b) did tunnelling under London not come with so much as a single problem?

I'm guessing the board of Network Rail live in the South-East and drive to Cornwall for their holidays...

I am not sure Network Rail had a knee-jerk reaction to an alternative route, indeed Robin Gisby on Radio 4'd Today Program on Thursday last week said that looking at an alternative route might be an option.  It will be for Network Rail to propose options with costs, to construct a new route (there may be a couple of choices) against retaining the existing route and the risks that go with that; it will then be a political decision based on who will fund it Cornwall County Council, Devon County Council, UK^▸ (United Kingdom) Government.

I question the Oakhampton route I feel the original GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) proposal may have more in it favour.

[ellendune]

The Okehampton option would need some money to sort a route through Tavistock as there are some buildings in the way and the landscape doesn't give much room for flexibility.

There wouldn't be any need for flexibility.The houses would be CPO'd and knocked down in the same way as a far more substantial number of properties have been in the rebuilding of the Borders railway.

Yes but that would all cost money (especially if WDDC offices had to go) - that's all I was saying.

[SandTEngineer]

A map of the 1936 proposal for the DAL has appeared on the WNXX^▸ (Stored Unserviceable, Mainline Locos HQ All Classes) forum (you need to be a member to access it).

[AMLAG]

Well perhaps the English Government could learn from the Scottish Government on how to re-instate a railway; Edinburgh to Galashiels over 30 miles and with FAR more challenges than Meldon to Sourton Parkway/Tavistock/Bere Alston.
If it could be added by the EU^» (European Union - about) to the Trans Europe (Rail) Network  then English Govt. would do something as they are with HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)).

Don't forget the petition:-
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/60302        over 600 signatures so far in just a few days!

[Umberleigh]

Actually, you'll find the business case for Crossrail & moving millions of people annually through London might have something more tangible to do with one being built and the other an expensive (but possibly necessary depending on whether its considered to be a one-in-175-years event or something likely to be more frequent.

Hopefully, those in Cornwall will get a sense of proportion soon. While HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)) and Crossrail will be built & money spent for good reason, the diversion via Okehampton is incredibly expensive for the numbers likely to use it (no where near Crossrail nor HS2 numbers). Yes, something is needed - but currently you can't access it from the East/London, so its not that useful....Further money needs spending on the lines from the East towards Exeter first, so that at least you can guarantee services into Exeter!

But we're talking about, what, 1,500,000 people who have lost their rail link - it's hardly insignificant. ^100 million for an investment that will last decades is not a lot in the grand scheme of things.

If this was Scotland, it would have been done yesterday

[ChrisB]

Yes, Scotland receive an awful lot of money from the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) Government and they have far less to spend it on.

[SandTEngineer]

Now having had a little bit of time to digest the DAL map (link in an earlier post above) I think that the Dawlish Warren route is the best.  It would mean that new stations at Dawlish Warren, Dawlish and Teignmouth could be provided on the opposite side of town (with the added possibility of a new station at Bishopsteignton) and the retention of Starcross.  The old line could then be completely closed (to trains anyway).

We seem to be spreading this diversion discussion over several threads.  Perhaps the moderators could sort that out

[ChrisB]

Can you post that map please - you need to be a member to access it

[SandTEngineer]

Can you post that map please - you need to be a member to access it

You need to be a member then

[ChrisB]

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[SandTEngineer]

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You are not authorised to download this attachment.

You obviously need to be a member of WNXX^▸ (Stored Unserviceable, Mainline Locos HQ All Classes) then.  On that basis I will remove the link in my original post above.

[broadgage]

According to BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) news

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-26110559

Not certain if this means that work will start, or that it is merely the go ahead for many years of meetings, nimbyfests, consulations and studies.

Still shows that they are thinking seriously about an avoiding line though.

[alexross42]

I'm surprised by this, I really thought that the inland DAL would be the preferred option.
Unfortunately though I think it will be a looooong time coming to fruition, if ever.

[Red Squirrel]

Sounds like we're at GRIP^▸ (Guide to Railway Investment Projects) 4, but I suspect in truth we're at GRIP 0 heading for GRIP 1.

[Plymboi]

What's this about, very quick and fishy


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-26110559