General Discussion
I don't see the issue being that there should be an alternative to the Dawlish route rather that there might be an argument that there should be an additional route. The question then becomes where should that additional route be located? The present route via Dawlish sea front needs to be kept not least, as I have pointed out before, because it also acts as a sea/estuary defence. Should ...
The other thing about that north Dartmoor line is that the amount of population it will serve is nowhere near the numbers that the Dawlish/Newton Abbot/Torbay/Totnes/Ivybridge line(s) serve. I took a look at the 2011 population census figures this afternoon. Now, as they are 2011 they are not bang up to date (Exminster may have a bigger population now because of the new housing, ditto Dawlish) ...
All of which then begs the question why has Network Rail expressed a preference for a north of Dartmoor line (Okehampton/Tavistock/Plymouth) rather than a second line, situated just a bit inland from Exminster/Kenton running to Teignmouth(ish) via Dawlish Parkway and which would thus avoid the Dawlish seawall?
Two routes then? One on the present line, via Dawlish Town railway station, and the other on a Dawlish avoiding line with a new Dawlish Parkway railway station? After all, a Dawlish Parkway would be ideal for all those commuters who will be living in all that new build housing scheduled to be built out Shutterton/Gatehouse way. Remember the present line also acts as a sea/estuary flood ...
Anyone know anymore about this? I'm just curious to know what has since been built on this once proposed route. This is from Wikipaedia. (my emphasis in bold) "The Dawlish Avoiding Line was first proposed in 1933, to avoid the high cost of maintenance associated with the SDR sea wall, and keep the Exeter to Plymouth Line working. [1] But in 1935, Chancellor of the Exchequer ...
Just been watching the local BBC news. Seems the cost to the local economy will be even greater now than at first thought given that the bad weather has lengthened the time before the Dawlish rail line will be operating again. Thought I'd post this about the estimated cost in terms of loss to the local economy. This is from the BBC's website dated 6-2-14: (my emphasis in bold) "Devon ...
From today's Observer; http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/feb/16/hs2-divert-cash-southwest-railway?guni=Keyword:news-grid%20main-1%20Main%20trailblock:Editable%20trailblock%20-%20news:Position1:sublinks
There is an editorial in this week's Dawlish Post which I encourage everyone to read if they possibly can (see page 8). The editorial suggests that the south-west is the Cinderella of transport with regard to transport funding and gives figures supporting that argument (and bear in mind that the Swansea Lagoon project that I posted about a few days ago is expected to come in at a cost of around ...
Wonder if Will's 'The Tempest' has got any appropriate quotes?
As I write this I understand the A379 is blocked at Kenton because of a fallen oak tree and as we all know we have no rail link either. Will this concentrate minds I wonder? Heaven forbid this should ever happen but suppose, just suppose that the Exe burst its banks at, say, Starcross. As a lot of Starcross is below sea level such an event would not only cause misery for homeowners there ...
