where are we now with flood damage? the railways

In the West Country things looked really bad at the beginning of March:













The Rail Engineer | Gales, floods and the railway



The Dawlish railway line was damaged in this winter's savage storms and again in more storms February.
BBC News - Dawlish railway station

But things have been moving ahead:

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Network Rail Dawlish repair timelapse 10.02.14 to 24.02.14 - YouTube

Dawlish railway line is repaired in Devon, United Kingdom, in period from February 2 to February 24. Recent storms in the UK caused significant damage to the area, destroying 100 metres of sea wall, resulting in a portion of the railway line collapsing into the sea. This video shows work on the line in a timelapse. Credit: Youtube/Network Rail

Video: Timelapse of Devon railway repair - BelfastTelegraph.co.uk

But is it just going to happen again?
When it was first built, this stretch of railway had big problems:

Repair: The main breach at Riviera Terrace has been plugged with concrete

The South Devon Railway from Exeter to Plymouth opened in 1846, a year late, partly due to damage to the sea walls near Dawlish, according to Brunel biographer Derrick Beckett.

Between Dawlish Warren and Teignmouth, Brunel opted for a coast-hugging route to avoid steep gradients inland that he couldn’t tunnel through due to restrictions on costs.

This 4km stretch of railway, while becoming famous for the scenic journeys it offers on a clear day, has suffered regularly from the power of the seas ever since.

A major breach of the sea walls occurred as recently as 1996, but local residents and engineers believe the effects of the storms of February this year to be the biggest ever seen.

“I’ve checked back through the records and can’t find any mention of damage and disruption on this scale, certainly since the Victorian era,” says Network Rail south west customer service manager Tim Maddocks.

Concrete storm repairs: Plugging the storm breach in Dawlish | Features | New Civil Engineer

But why do we need the railway to go along such a tricky part of the coast?
Because it's so beautiful in the West Country:

Devon countryside to lure foreign tourists in new campaign

By Exeter Express and Echo  |  Posted: March 25, 2014

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Britain’s overseas tourist board is to make the countryside the centrepiece of its next campaign amid a push to ensure foreign visitors know Britain is open for business following the floods.

VisitBritain announced in December it had been handed an extra £90 million to fund its “Great” campaign over the next two years to entice more high-spending visitors from abroad.

The campaign, launched initially to tie in with the 2012 Olympics, has focussed on various aspects of British life thought to appeal to foreigners, including culture, heritage and sport.

While the countryside has featured, research by the quango has found rural Britain is a major asset when tempting tourists to explore beyond London.

The move could spark a windfall for the far South West, which boasts some of the UK’s most popular rural and coastal attractions.

VisitBritain’s chairman Christopher Rodrigues told the Western Morning News that Britain boasted a “huge variety of landscapes”.

He said: “We’ve just witnessed a record year for overseas visitors coming to Britain, not only in terms of bums on seats, but also in what is being spent when they’re here.

“What we’re striving to do now is ensure that we’re showing the world what a ‘Great’ countryside we have, and highlighting cities and towns beyond London.

“We want to remind people that Britain might be a small island, but it’s characterised by a huge variety of landscapes and a wealth of beautiful destinations to explore – be it the unique insight afforded by a trip to the Jurassic Coast, taking in the view from atop the Glastonbury Tor, strolling the untouched beauty of Mevagissey or admiring the superbly set Lanhydrock House and Gardens.”

Devon countryside to lure foreign tourists in new campaign | Exeter Express and Echo

Which does mean more cash is needed:
Government urged to seek EU rail funds | Western Daily Press

Anyway, the Dawlish line should be open by the end of the week:
BBC News - Dawlish railway station receives makeover for reopening
Rail line will open this week | Plymouth Herald
Rail line at Dawlish set to reopen on April 4 (From This is The West Country)
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